TRANSPORT

Bus Lanes: Bedfordshire

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has committed funds to the Luton to Dunstable busway for 2010-11.

Paul Clark: In September 2008 we granted conditional approval to a maximum Government contribution of £78.39 million towards the cost of this scheme.
	Full approval will not be given until final prices have been fixed following a tendering exercise by Luton borough council. We understand that the council will be seeking full approval towards the end of 2009.

Departmental Planning Permission

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many sites have been developed following use of his powers under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2006 in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: holding answer 25 February 2009
	In the last three years the Highways Agency have established a total of six site compounds using powers under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2006.
	Of the six compounds, three were established in 2006, and three in 2007. No site compounds were established using these powers in 2008 by the Highways Agency.

Railways

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of setting maximum passenger levels for rail services.

Paul Clark: Trains are designed to operate effectively and safely even when they are loaded to maximum capacity. Therefore, Her Majesty's Government have not considered any guidance or instructions about setting maximum passenger levels on railway services.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the amount of salt provided by the Highways Agency to Gloucestershire county council during the recent snowfall; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 10 February 2009
	It is for local authorities to determine levels of salt necessary for their winter maintenance programme as set out in the UK Roads Board's (voluntary) code of practice on highways maintenance management, "Well-maintained Highways". The Highways Agency provided 550 tonnes of road salt to Gloucestershire county council under the mutual aid scheme on 8 February 2009.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what process his Department uses to  (a) monitor the level of salt available for road treatment and  (b) estimate future road salt requirements.

Paul Clark: holding answer 12 February 2009
	It is for Local Authorities to determine levels of salt necessary for their winter maintenance programme as set out in the UK Roads Board's (voluntary) code of practice on highways maintenance management, "Well-maintained Highways". For the trunk road network, the Highways Agency has in place long established procedures which require salt stock capability reporting on a daily basis between 1 October and 30 April. Salt stock requirements are ascertained from a combination of longer term weather forecast information and records of salt usage. Salt capability is expressed as the number of treatment days available based on six treatments per day at 20gm/m2—the level of treatment typical for snow conditions. A weekly summary is produced which gives an overview of salt stocks and provides advance warning when salt stocks are approaching a critical level.
	As a result of the recent severe weather, central government, the Local Government Association and the Highways Agency have been working together to provide daily advice to suppliers on the most effective distribution of available salt supplies in order to minimise the risk to public safety. This advice is based on daily demand estimates informed by the Met Office's 24 hour forecast and comparisons between existing salt stocks and available supply.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Allowances

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1570-71W, on Members' expenses, what consideration she gave to consulting the Information Commissioner on the provisions of the draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009.

Chris Bryant: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1570-71W.

Members: Allowances

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1W, on Members: allowances, what criteria govern the assessment of the merits of a request for an advance on a hon. Member's communications allowance.

Chris Bryant: Subject to the administrative rules set out in my answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 1W, the requester would need to demonstrate that the advance was for a specific purpose which enabled him or her to carry out a parliamentary duty and that it was a proper use of public money in support of his or her role. There must be no suggestion that the use of the allowance would be for party political advantage or electioneering.
	To date no advance from the communications allowance for 2009-10 has been requested this year nor were any advances made last year.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) consolatory payments and  (b) other compensatory payments the Child Support Agency made to residents of (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years; and what the monetary value of such payments was in each such year.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 46-48W.

Departmental Data Protection

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy for his Department to sign the Information Commissioner's Personal Information Promise.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government welcome the Promise as a commendable initiative to raise awareness of the importance of effective data protection safeguards, particularly for those organisations with no similar commitments already in place.
	The Government take data protection very seriously. Following the Cabinet Office Review of Data Handling Procedures in Government, departments have implemented a raft of measures to improve data security.
	The Ministry of Justice is considering actively with the ICO how the Promise might add additional value to those measures we have already signed up to. These include the Information Charters, the recommendations of the Data Handling Review and the Thomas/Walport Review and, of course, our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and other legislation and regulations.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Jonathan R Shaw: During the last 12 months (January 2008 to January 2009) 146 equality impact assessments were undertaken in the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The cost of carrying out the equality impact assessment is not possible to estimate as the Department's equality impact assessment process is embedded in the development and implementation of new (or changes to) functions, policies and services that are the responsibility of the Department.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff currently working in his Department are on secondment from EDS; and what roles and responsibilities they have.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 26 February 2009
	Information on how many staff currently working in the Department for Work and Pensions are on secondment from EDS, and their roles and responsibilities, is not available in the format requested.
	DWP does not keep central records of individuals seconded into DWP. To extract this information from individual records would be at a disproportionate cost.

Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by his Department is in 2008-09.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP has a total of 3,467 m(2) of vacant workspace recorded on e-PIMS. This workspace constitutes partial holdings in buildings retained for operational requirements. This workspace represents only a fraction of 1 per cent. of the total DWP estate as at 1 February 2009.
	The estimated cost in empty business rates for this workspace is £138,000 p.a.

Fireworks: Safety

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information the Health and Safety Executive requires companies seeking a classification and authorisation document for a firework to provide.

Jonathan R Shaw: Companies seeking a firework classification are required to submit a proposed classification for approval by the Health and Safety Executive. They are also required to provide sufficient information to enable the HSE to determine that the proposed classification is appropriate. This information includes details of the manufacturer, the firework names and types, part numbers, their chemical composition, information on the packaging and design and details of any relevant tests conducted on them.
	There is no requirement for firework authorisation.

Fireworks: Safety

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks on provision of licensed storage the Health and Safety Executive performs before granting a classification and authorisation document to importers of fireworks.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Health and Safety Executive does not conduct checks on the provision of licensed storage before granting a classification document for fireworks. A classification assigns information on the hazard posed by fireworks during transport; the eventual provision of licensed storage does not affect safety during transport. There is no requirement in any circumstances to grant an authorisation for fireworks.
	The requirements for safe storage of fireworks are set out in the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER) and are enforced by either the Health and Safety Executive or local authority, depending on the amount of fireworks to be stored.

Fireworks: Safety

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which companies issued with a classification and authorisation document for a firework by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in each of the last five years had  (a) HSE-licensed and  (b) local storage when the document was issued.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Health and Safety Executive does not collect this information.

Industrial Health and Safety: Death

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fatal accidents at work there were in each of the last 20 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Fatal injuries to workers( 1)  as reported to all enforcing authorities, 1988-89 to 2007-08( 2,3) 
			   Employees  Self-employed  Workers 
			 1988-89(4) 529 80 609 
			 1989-90 370 105 475 
			 1990-91 346 87 433 
			 1991-92 297 71 368 
			 1992-93 276 63 339 
			 1993-94 245 51 296 
			 1994-95 191 81 272 
			 1995-96 209 49 258 
			 1996-97(5) 207 80 287 
			 1997-98 212 62 274 
			 1998-99 188 65 253 
			 1999-2000 162 58 220 
			 2000-01 213 79 292 
			 2001-02 206 45 251 
			 2002-03 183 44 227 
			 2003-04 168 68 236 
			 2004-05 172 51 223 
			 2005-06 164 53 217 
			 2006-07 191 56 247 
			 2007-08(2) 179 50 229 
			 (1) The term 'workers' includes employees and the self-employed combined (2) Provisional (3) The annual basis is the planning year 1 April to 31 March (4) The Piper Alpha disaster occurred in July 1988. The fatality count for 1988-89 therefore reflects the 167 deaths that occurred in this single incident (5) Changes in the legislation covering accident reporting came into effect in April 1996. Prior to this date reports were made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1985. From 1996-97 onwards reports were made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.

Jobcentre Plus: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of accessibility of Jobcentre Plus offices for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Jobcentre Plus offices for disabled people. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus strives to be an exemplar in delivering services to all of our customers, including disabled people. The design of our modern Jobcentre Plus offices incorporated all reasonable and practicable measures regarding access arrangements for disabled people, to ensure that we take into account the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
	Where full access to all people cannot be provided for genuine reasons (e.g. listed building status, prohibitive cost, or the structure of the existing building), every effort is made to ensure that access is provided for the maximum number of disabled people. For example, where internal alterations could not be made to enable upper floor access, services are made available on the ground floor where possible. We also consider other ways of contacting our customers, such as visiting people at home.
	I am satisfied the arrangements in place ensure that our offices continue to comply with our guidelines.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1423-4W, on rheumatoid arthritis, how many claimants of  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) severe disablement allowance had each type of (i) medical and (ii) disabling condition recorded in relation to their claims in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information has been placed in the Library.

Social Security Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 February 2009 on disability benefits, what his estimate is of the effect on the number of people claiming  (a) disability living allowance (care component),  (b) attendance allowance and  (c) carer's allowance of the European Court of Justice's decision to reclassify these benefits as sickness benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The effect on the number of people claiming the disability benefits is very difficult to predict. Our estimates indicate that this will result in an increase in the number of customers as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Benefit  Estimated caseload 
			 Disability Living Allowance 20,000 
			 Attendance Allowance (1)— 
			 Carers Allowance (1)— 
			 Total 20,000 
			 (1) Estimate is less than 5,000 and therefore equals zero when rounded to the nearest 10,000.  Notes: 1. These estimates relate to 2010-11 because this is assumed to be the first full year following full implementation of the judgment.

Welfare Reform Bill 2008-09: Impact Assessments

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of version (a) one and  (b) two of the impact assessment for the Welfare Reform Bill 2009.

Tony McNulty: Version one of the impact assessment related to, and was published electronically alongside, the Green Paper 'No-one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility' and is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/noonewrittenoff/noonewrittenoffer-impactassesment.pdf
	Version two of the impact assessment related to, and was published electronically alongside, the White Paper 'Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future' and is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/raisingexpectations/impact-assessment.pdf
	Version three of the impact assessment relates to the Welfare Reform Bill and is available in the Library.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date.

Patrick McFadden: For the last 10 years the Department's and its predecessors IT services have been provided through a PFI agreement with Fujitsu Services and covers the provision of all desktop services, web infrastructure services, document management and other business applications. In addition, the Department has in place an alternative IT framework agreement with a number of suppliers to enable competition where this is deemed appropriate. However, due to a change in the Department's accounting system during 2003-04 and the previously devolved nature of the ICT, consistent data on all the information requested cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Pay

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on bonuses for press officers within his Department in each of the last five years; and how many such bonuses were awarded.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Such information as is available for press officers is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Number of bonuses  Total cost (£) 
			 2005-06 8 9,659 
			 2006-07 12 8,780 
			 2007-08 10 9,250 
		
	
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport makes bonus payments to its staff for two purposes: (a) special bonuses to reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding tasks or situations, and (b) performance bonuses to reward successful performance over a whole year.
	To provide historical information requested for earlier periods than shown would incur disproportionate cost.

English Heritage: VAT

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at which of its venues English Heritage  (a) reduced and  (b) did not reduce the retail prices of tickets following the December 2008 reduction in value added tax.

Barbara Follett: English Heritage advises that following the reduction in VAT, it reduced admission prices on 1 December on all its properties open to the public. These were reduced to the nearest 10 pence price point so, in some instances, the saving is greater than the VAT change and in others slightly less. The VAT reduction has been passed on for all admission prices with the exception of some child prices where the change would amount to five pence or less.

National Lottery: Catz Club

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 54W, on Catz Club, for which projects and for what purpose each of the Lottery grants listed was made to Catz Club.

Barbara Follett: The following information comes from the Department's lottery grants database. The database is searchable at
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	and uses information on lottery grants supplied by the lottery distributors.
	
		
			  Distributing body  Grant date  Recipient name  Project description  Grant amount (£) 
			 New Opportunities Fund 26 June 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 168 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Northamptonshire. It will create seven new clubs. 80,269 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17/10/2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 48 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Kent. The project will create two new clubs. 24,496 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17 October 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 72 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Norfolk. The project will create three new clubs. 24,496 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17 October 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 48 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Cambridgeshire. The project will create two new clubs. 12,247 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17 October 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 72 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Ealing. The project will create three new clubs. 7,080 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17 October 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 48 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Hackney. The project will create two new clubs. 24,496 
			 New Opportunities Fund 17 October 2003 Catz Club The grant will be used to create 120 after- school places for children aged four to 11-years-old in Middlesex. The project will create five new clubs 24,496 
			 New Opportunities Fund 10 February 2006 Catz Club The grant would be used to create 24 before and 24 after-school places for children aged between four and 11-years-old by creating one new provision in the Windsor area. One local school would be served. 5,527

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 171W, on apprentices, how many of the apprenticeships referred to were state-funded.

Si�n Simon: The information provided on 3 November 2008,  Official R eport, column 171W, was apprenticeship places in England funded by the Government through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) since 2001, and previously through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). Hence, all apprenticeship starts given in the table were state-funded.
	Table 1 as follows gives updated LSC/TEC-funded apprenticeship starts from 1997/98 to 2007/08. Information for 2007/08 was first published in a statistical first release on 18 December 2008:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship starts, 1997/98 to 2007/08 
			   Starts 
			 1997/98 75,000 
			 1998/99 118,000 
			 1999/2000 165,000 
			 2000/01 177,000 
			 2001/02 162,000 
			 2002/03 204,000 
			 2003/04 194,000 
			 2004/05 189,000 
			 2005/06 175,000 
			 2006/07 184,000 
			 2007/08 225,000 
			  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.  Source: WBL ILR/ISR 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public has been since it was established.

Si�n Simon: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members' correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	With respect to correspondence from members of the public the Department cannot provide the requested information within disproportionate costs limits, but we do aim to respond to all written correspondence within 15 working days. Statistics on the handling of letters from members of public is published in the Department's annual report.

Skilled Workers: Lincolnshire

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what reports he has received on the skills requirements of the workforce at the Lindsey oil refinery; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what skills courses currently funded by his Department relate to posts which have been contracted to workers from other EU member states at the Lindsey oil refinery; and how many such courses are currently available in North East Lincolnshire.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council funds provision at the local College, Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education, which offers a range of industry-specific programmes of learning to help learners acquire and improve the skills needed to work in the chemical refining sector. These include chemical process operations, fabrication and welding, Health and Safety Passport scheme and general engineering and plant maintenance. We are not aware that courses are specifically arranged for learners from other EU member states.
	The Government have recently announced a review of productivity and skills in the engineering construction sector. This will make recommendations on ways to improve skills and productivity in the UK engineering construction industry and identify specific factors influencing success for UK-based companies bidding for UK and foreign engineering construction contracts.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Billy Wright Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Wright Inquiry has spent on security.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Billy Wright Inquiry that the inquiry has spent 577,000 on security to the end of January 2009.

Billy Wright Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Wright Inquiry has spent on  (a) transport,  (b) accommodation,  (c) advertising and  (d) virtual reality technology.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Billy Wright Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:
	 (a) 693,000 on transport;
	 (b) 1.70 million on accommodation;
	 (c) Nothing on advertising; and
	 (d) Nothing on virtual reality technology.

Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has spent on  (a) advertising,  (b) accommodation,  (c) transport and  (d) virtual reality technology.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:
	 (a) Approximately 19,000 on advertising;
	 (b) Approximately 26 million on accommodation (including hire of venues for inquiry hearings plus office and private accommodation);
	 (c) Approximately 5 million on transport; and
	 (d) Approximately 106,000 on virtual reality technology.
	This covers only expenditure by the inquiry and not expenditure by the Ministry of Defence associated with the inquiry.

Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has spent on security.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that the Inquiry has spent approximately 3.4 million on security to the end of January 2009.

Departmental Consultants

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of his Department's contracts with management consultants was in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The cost of contracts with management consultants is not held centrally. Information in relation to spending on the different types of consultancies has been recorded since 2005-06.
	In each of the last three years my Department has spent the following amounts on management consultants:
	
		
			
			 2007-08 126,618 
			 2006-07 461,906 
			 2005-06 1,193 693

Departmental Consultants

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 988-91W, on departmental consultants, how many consultants from each of the companies listed his Department has employed in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office does not record the number of individual consultants used by consultancy firms employed by my Department as contracts are awarded directly to the company.
	With reference to the answer given on 18 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 988-91W, my Department has employed 32 of the companies listed in the last 12 months.

Police

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) police officers and  (b) other staff paid from the policing budget for Northern Ireland undertook duties at the public event hosted by the Northern Ireland Policing Board in Londonderry on 18 February 2009.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Robert Hamill Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Hamill Inquiry has spent on  (a) advertising,  (b) transport,  (c) accommodation and  (d) virtual reality technology.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Robert Hamill Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:
	 (a) Nothing on advertising;
	 (b) 230,000 on transport;
	 (c) 3.50 million on accommodation; and
	(d) 50,000 on virtual reality technology.

Rosemary Nelson Inquiry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Nelson Inquiry has spent on  (a) advertising,  (b) security,  (c) accommodation,  (d) transport and  (e) virtual reality technology.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry that, to the end of January 2009, the inquiry has spent:
	 (a) Nothing on advertising;
	 (b) 957,000 on security,
	 (c) 4.48 million on accommodation;
	 (d) 446,000 on transport; and
	 (e) Nothing on virtual reality technology.

OLYMPICS

CompeteFor

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the CompeteFor website has cost to  (a) develop and  (b) run in each year since its inception; and how much of the funding was provided by (i) the Government, (ii) the London Development Agency and (iii) regional development agencies.

Tessa Jowell: The information requested is as follows:
	The costs of CompeteFor are as follows:
	 (a) CompeteFor cost 3.633million to develop, which included concept development, specification, implementation and testing, and establishing the support structure.
	 (b) Running costs are as follows:
	Year 1 (December 2007 to March 2008) 220,000
	Year 2 (April 2008 to March 2009) projected at 1.241 million
	Funding arrangements are as follows
	(i) No direct funding was provided by Central Government.
	(ii) The London Development Agency and the eight other regional development agencies have each provided 379,000 in set up and running costs in Year 1 and will provide approximately 111,000 each in running costs by the end of this financial year.
	The remaining costs are met by contributions provided by the devolved administrations.

Government Olympic Executive: Expenditure

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much has been spent on the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years.

Tessa Jowell: The expenditure of the Government Olympic Executive (GOE), part of the DCMS, for the last two complete financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			 2006-07 3.1 
			 2007-08 5.4 
		
	
	The estimated expenditure for GOE in 2008-09 is 8.1 million.
	This planned increase in costs  (a) reflects the wider role the GOE has taken on during this periodGOE is now the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the games is delivered within the 9.3 billion public sector funding provision;  (b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, as 2012 approaches; and  (c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, which was agreed by Treasury early in 2008.
	GOE's budget covers funding for both  (a) GOE staff costs and  (b) 2012-related programmes aimed at maximising the benefits of the games for the whole of the UK. In 2008-09, for example, this has included a contribution towards the costs of regional Cultural Olympiad programmers, the costs of events to engage with the public and to raise awareness of the opportunities the games can provide for all the nations and regions of the UK, the costs of establishing a 2012 evaluation framework Cabinet Office and the costs of publishing the 2012 Legacy Action Plan and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report.

Government Olympic Executive: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  how many staff worked in the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many staff worked for her in each of the last three years.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 February 2009
	Since its inception in June 2007 my private office has consisted of five officials and a special adviser, except for when it has carried vacancies.
	In addition, staff working in the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) report to me through the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The number of staff (full-time equivalents (FTEs)) working in the GOE has risen over the last three years as follows.
	
		
			  As at February each year  FTEs 
			 2006 30 
			 2007 44.3 
			 2008 63 
			 2009 87.3 
		
	
	This planned increase in staffing (a) reflects the wider role the GOE has taken on during this period - GOE is now the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the games is delivered within the 9.3 billion public sector funding provision; (b) is a planned response to the expected growth in work to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees, as 2012 approaches; and (c) is consistent with GOE's staffing and resource plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11, which was agreed by the Treasury early in 2008.

Olympic Games 2012

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics by what process the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games plans to design the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 February 2009
	The opening and closing ceremonies of both the Olympic games and the Paralympic games in 2012 will be significant moments for the UK, representing an opportunity to showcase the excellent cultural talent we have.
	The decision making process to design and deliver these ceremonies is the responsibility of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The first stage of this process is to host key stakeholder forums, to scope the initial ambition for these ceremonies. These events are taking place in the different nations and regions of the UK in the coming weeks.
	Following these consultations, LOCOG will work to put in place the brief and plans necessary to deliver the ceremonies, and appoint the creative team to run the ceremonies.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2273W, on Olympic games 2012: construction, whether the Olympics Delivery Authority predicted the cost implications for the velopark budget of moving the velodrome.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 February 2009
	The Velodrome was moved slightly to the west to help with the design and layout of the wider cycling facilities to be built in legacy. The Olympic Delivery Authority was aware of the generally poor ground conditions. However, the VeloPark budget could only be adjusted when the full extent of these conditions was known.

Olympic Games: China

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether she has made an assessment of UK public opinion on London 2012's contribution to the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 February 2009
	No formal assessment has been made of public opinion in the UK on London's Handover Ceremony in Beijing.
	Since the August Handover ceremony, my Department's research has shown that interest in the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games has risen by six percentage points.
	The Museums Libraries and Archives Council has carried out some assessment as part of their People's Record project. 5,000 people gave their views on the Handover celebrations and the Cultural Olympiad; the results will be published in spring.
	The London Organising Committee of the Olypmic games will build on the experience gained and lessons learnt during this ceremony to deliver the ceremonies in 2012.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Capgemini

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in respect of which consultations conducted by his Department Capgemini has undertaken work.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Full public consultations undertaken by the Department for Children, Schools and Families are conducted by the Department's Communications Directorate. Capgemini has not undertaken any work on these consultations.

Capgemini

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's 2002 long-term partnering agreement with Capgemini.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families will place a copy of the business services framework agreement between the Department and Capgemini dated 6 November 2001 in the Libraries following agreement with Capgemini on what potentially sensitive commercial information may or may not be released.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  within how long after their completion local authorities are expected to supply his Department with copies of serious case reviews;
	(2)  what procedures his Department follows when it receives a full serious case review.

Beverley Hughes: Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are asked to provide an anonymised copy of each full serious case review to the Department for Children, Schools and Families as soon as possible after the publication of the executive summary. This is to inform biennial overview reports which analyse the key findings from serious case reviews taken as a whole and identify the implications for policy and practice. When an individual serious case review is complete the report is then evaluated by Ofsted. DCSF children and learners teams in the Regional Government Offices have a support and challenge role, in particular with respect to the implementation by LSCBs and local agencies of recommendations in individual serious case review reports.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many serious case reviews initiated in 2008 were not published within four months of their being requested by the local safeguarding board.

Beverley Hughes: These data are not compiled centrally. The first annual Ofsted report on Serious Case Reviews, 'Learning Lessons, Taking Action', published on 1 December 2008, gave information on 50 serious case reviews evaluated by Ofsted between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008. It noted that of the 50 reviews evaluated, five were completed within four months, although the report also observed that 'a significant number of reviews were delayed because they were awaiting the outcome of coroners' courts and/or criminal proceedings'. Guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 is clear, that any delays in completing serious case reviews should not prevent early lessons learnt from being implemented.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department or its predecessors were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was set up as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. All sickness absence data are available on the Department's website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/.
	Information for individual members of staff who had sick leave for the periods specified is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportion cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was set up as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. The figures for the Department apply from 31 December 2007 onwards.
	
		
			  Number of people who have been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December 
			   Number 
			 2008 3 
			 2007 4

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 10W, on education maintenance allowance (EMA), whether the regular updates on the EMA delivery issues provided to Ministers by the Learning and Skills Council are provided in written form.

Jim Knight: The processing statistics supplied by the contractor via the Learning and Skills Council to officials in the Department for Children School and Families were provided in written form. These statistics were provided daily during the working week, between September 2008 to January 2009. Officials are currently collating these records and we will make them available before 12 March.

Music: Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) people and  (b) schools have registered with the Sing Up website;
	(2)  what percentage of primary school pupils in the relevant age category have taken part in the Sing Up programme.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: People register on the Sing Up website only if they want to receive the magazine that is sent out once a term. Other people can visit the site without registering. The data for February show that there have so far been 26,149 registrations on the website, including from 13,489 individual schools.
	Over 100,000 children have been directly involved in Sing Up activity, such as workshops in the Southbank Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Over 20,000 people have participated in Sing Up training and CPD activity and the website attracts 20,000 visitors each week. There is no measure of how many children are subsequently reached by those who have received training or visited the website.

National Curriculum Tests: Special Educational Needs

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) all children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties,  (b) children identified with speech, language and communications difficulties from the 10 per cent. most deprived areas and  (c) children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties from the five per cent. most deprived areas achieved the national standard in all Key Stage 1 assessments in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties from  (a) the 10 per cent. most deprived areas and  (b) the five per cent. most deprived areas achieved the national standard in Key Stage 1 (i) reading, (ii) writing, (iii) mathematics and (iv) science assessments in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of children identified with speech, language and communication difficulties achieved the national standard in Key Stage 1  (a) reading,  (b) writing,  (c) mathematics and  (d) science assessments in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department only collects data by type of special educational need for children at School Action Plus or with statements. School Action Plus, under the SEN Code of Practice, is where a school receives some external help to meet a child's SEN. A SEN statement is drawn up by a local authority, following an assessment, where it is necessary to determine the special educational provision which a child's learning difficulties call for.
	The available 2008 information is attached to the Statistical First Release: Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2007/08, which can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000822/index.shtml
	Analysis similar to that requested for pupils with speech, language and communication difficulty attaining the expected level in Key Stage 1 was carried out using 2006 data and the relevant information is given as follows.
	This information is not available for years before 2005 when type of SEN information for pupils was not collected.
	The analysis only relates to the primary SEN type of pupils. Some of these children may also have a secondary SEN type which has not been taken into consideration in the analysis.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 (expected level) or above in Key Stage 1 assessments in 2006 
			  Number of pupils with speech language and communication difficulty at school action plus = reading/writing/maths 8,875, science 8,870 
			  Number of pupils with speech language and communication difficulty with statements = reading/writing/maths 2,410, science 2,405 
			   Reading  Writing  Maths  Science 
			  School action plus 
			 Speech language and communication difficulty 45 38 60 58 
			  
			  Statement 
			 Speech language and communication difficulty 29 22 38 33 
			  Note: Figures relate to seven-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August) in maintained schools. 
		
	
	The Department intends to publish similar information for pupils with special educational needs based on 2008 data later this year.
	Further information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

School Meals: Nutrition

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of the effect of secondary schools allowing pupils to leave school premises at lunchtime on the ability of schools to deliver higher nutritional standards in school meals.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Food based standards for school lunches have been in place since September 2006. Schools must also meet the Government's nutrient based standards for school lunches, which were introduced for primary school lunches in September 2008 and will be introduced in secondary and special schools in September 2009. Clearly, secondary school pupils who leave the school premises at lunchtime and do not eat a school lunch will not benefit from the healthier food on offer at the school. It is for head teachers to decide whether to adopt a stay on site policy.

Schools: Catering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school premises have a dining hall.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not hold up-to-date information on the numbers and proportions of primary and secondary schools that have a dining hall. It is thought that:
	 (a) most primary schools have halls where dining takes place. For some schools this is a dedicated dining hall, for many it is a multi-purpose hall used for assembly, PE and dining;
	 (b) most, if not all, secondary schools have dining halls.
	Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under 700 million in 1996-97 to 6.7 billion in 2008-09 and will rise further to 8.0 billion by 2010-11. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to local authorities and schools. This enables them to fund priority projects which could include providing a dining hall at a school that does not have one.

Schools: Inspections

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons agreements of contracts between Ofsted and inspection contractors have not been reached in accordance with the originally planned timetable.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 26 February 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	The original timetable for the awarding of new inspection contracts made provision for decisions being made in January 2009. In October 2008, a decision was taken to delay this by one month to allow the process to take full account of organisational changes within Ofsted.
	On 25 February 2009, bidders were informed about the outcomes and a press release was placed on the Ofsted website. The contract award is subject to an Alcatel (standstill) period under European legislation, which will end on 9 March 2009. Publicity during the Alcatel period is being kept deliberately 'low key', restricted to information that bidders are obliged to provide under the London Stock Exchange Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR).
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which maintained special schools opened in 2008; and what the cost of establishing each was.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department's records, based on information supplied by local authorities, indicate that the following maintained special schools opened in 2008. The Department does not have a record of the cost of establishing these schools; this will be held locally.
	
		
			  Name of maintained special school  Postal/town  Postal/county area  Date opened 
			 Phoenix Schools Walsall West Midlands 1 January 2008 
			 Elmwood School Walsall West Midlands 1 January 2008 
			 Nene Gate Peterborough Cambridgeshire 2 January 2008 
			 Castle Wood Coventry West Midlands 1 April 2008 
			 Newbridge Learning Community Wigan Lancashire 1 September 2008 
			 Seven Hills School Sheffield South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 Sir Tom Finney Community High School Preston Lancashire 1 September 2008 
			 Acorns Primary School Preston Lancashire 1 September 2008 
			 Elm Tree Community Primary School Skelmersdale Lancashire 1 September 2008 
			 Heatherwood School Doncaster South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 Pennine View School Doncaster South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 Coppice Community School Doncaster South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 Stone Hill School Doncaster South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 North Ridge Community School Doncaster South Yorkshire 1 September 2008 
			 Cottenham Foundation Special School Cambridge Cambridgeshire 1 November 2008

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained special schools there were in each local authority in each year since 1997, broken down by special educational needs priority 1.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We cannot provide the information requested because it would require the manipulation of large volumes of data which could be undertaken only at a disproportionate cost.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1730-2W, on special educational needs, how many pupils were given  (a) a fixed period and  (b) a permanent exclusion.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Teachers: Training

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Continued Professional Development proposed for teachers operating in challenging circumstances, as referred to in his Department's publication New Opportunities, Fair Chances for the Future, will include training on the effects of poverty on children's experiences of school.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The teachers' Professional Standards already require them to identify and support children and young people whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances, and when to refer them to colleagues for specialist support.
	In connection with the extra support announced in the New Opportunities White Paper, I have asked the Training and Development Agency for Schools to assemble a package of guidance and advice for both new and experienced teachers and other school staff working in challenging circumstances. This will be available from September and will support teachers in achieving and maintaining the Professional Standards and other school staff in supporting children and young people.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Codes of Practice

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research in preparing for the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 29 January 2009
	A number of technical specialists from DEFRA and its agencies contributed to the content of the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice. The publication updates the previously published codes of practice for water, soil and air which have been periodically updated for the past 20 years. Therefore, the cost of research in preparing the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice is not readily available in DEFRA.

Angling: Devon

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of recreational sea angling to the North Devon economy;
	(2)  how many people resident in North Devon are employed in the North Devon recreational sea angling sector;
	(3)  how many recreational sea anglers are estimated to visit North Devon each year;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect that Article 47 of the EU Proposal for the Monitoring of Recreational Fisheries would have on recreational sea angling.

Huw Irranca-Davies: A DEFRA-funded study carried out by Drew Associates into the economic impact of the recreational sea angling sector in England and Wales was published in 2004. This study estimated that 18,889 people were employed in the sector and that the total expenditure of anglers was 538 million per year. Although we do not have detailed data on angling activity in North Devon, the same report considered the principal locations for angling in that area and identified that there were 15 charter angling vessels in the North Devon and Bristol Channel area.
	In England there are around 400 charter angling vessels that would require an authorisation under Article 47 of the draft EU proposal, plus an as yet unquantified number of privately owned vessels. As part of the process of negotiating this proposal, we shall be seeking clarification from the Commission on a number of issues relating to Article 47. Until we have that clarification it is difficult to assess accurately its potential impact on recreational sea angling. We shall be seeking stakeholders' views on these points and considering them in more detail in the impact assessment that my officials are drawing up and which we shall publish as part of the formal consultation procedure.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research into a vaccine for  (a) BVT1,  (b) BVT8,  (c) BVT6 and  (d) all other strains of bluetongue disease in each of the last six years.

Jane Kennedy: The research, development and production of bluetongue vaccine is a commercial proposition and there are a number of private companies involved in the development, production and sale of vaccine. Although Government do not actively fund work specifically on development of vaccines, significant funding on bluetongue research in recent years has provided a fundamental science base that contributes to and underpins the use of vaccines in disease control. This research, which includes work to understand the molecular basis of infection and protection from bluetongue, is published and made available to the wider scientific community.
	It is, therefore, not possible to state an exact figure that has contributed directly to vaccine development, but the overall Bluetongue Virus (BTV) research spend, of which some has been spent on molecular research over the last six years, has been:
	
		
			   Bluetongue ( million) 
			 2003-04 0.34 
			 2004-05 0.45 
			 2005-06 0.55 
			 2006-07 0.63 
			 2007-08 0.71 
			 2008-09 (1)0.73 
			 (1) Estimated 
		
	
	DEFRA continues to engage with experts and manufacturers on the issue of vaccine development and authorisation for other serotypes.

Departmental Legal Proceedings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision his Department has made in its budget for potential civil liabilities stemming from legal proceedings.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The provision made by the Department in its budget for potential civil liabilities stemming from legal proceedings is 5,958,667.

Departmental Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2019W, on departmental marketing, how the  (a) long-sleeved T-shirts,  (b) travel wallets,  (c) pens and  (d) travel toothbrush sets were branded; what (i) slogan and (ii) logo was used on each; and what the cost of each such type of promotional material was to his Department.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Departmental Communications Directorate has procured the following DEFRA branded products:
	
		
			  Product  Date  Slogan  Logos  Use  Cost ( each) 
			 Long sleeved T-shirt 2005-06 Don't break the law check the rules before you travel DEFRA Personal food imports campaign 6.95 
			HM Revenue and Customs   
			   
			 Travel wallets 2006-07 Don't break the law check the rules before you travel DEFRA Personal food imports campaign 0.77 
			HM Revenue and Customs   
			Food Standards Agency   
			   
			 Pens 2006-07 Don't break the law check the rules before you travel DEFRA Personal food imports campaign 0.19 
			   
			 Travel toothbrush sets 2006-07 Don't break the law check the rules before you travel DEFRA Personal food imports campaign 0.36

Departmental Pay

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent in bonuses to staff of each grade in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Performance related pay schemes encourage high attainment, help drive performance in departments and agencies and support better public service delivery. DEFRA's uses non-consolidated payments to reward high performance during the year and these are based on how well an individual has met or exceeded set objectives, relative to their peers.
	Non-consolidated performance payments are one-off payments and do not count towards pension. They are allocated from a 'pot' expressed as a percentage of the salary budget each year. Non-consolidated performance payments paid from the 2007 pay budget relate to performance in the, 2006-07 appraisal year and those paid from 2008 pay budget relate to performance in the 2007-08 appraisal year.
	For the senior civil service (SCS) the size of the pot available is agreed centrally each year following recommendations from the senior salaries review body. In recent years, this pot has increased as greater emphasis is placed on non-consolidated performance pay with proportionately smaller increases to consolidated base pay.
	The size of the pot for non-SCS is determined individually by Departments and Agencies through the pay remit process and in negotiations with the Trades Unions. DEFRA's pay remit level approved over the past two years has been below the average of those approved across Whitehall departments.
	The following tables show the total amount of non-consolidated performance payments awarded to staff in each grade in 2007 and 2008. For DEFRA, the data cover staff in core-DEFRA (including staff who transferred to DECC in October 2008) and those agencies covered by DEFRA terms and conditions (Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service and until 1 April 2008 Pesticides Safety Directorate).
	
		
			  2007 
			   
			  Grade equivalent  DEFRA  VLA  RPA  CSL  CEFAS 
			 AA 26,912 3,196 700 2,063 3,887 
			 AO 162,911 6,119 134,305 25,944 87,337 
			 EO 228,800 10,712 142,949 33,609 95,341 
			 HEO 451,455 6,216 66,217 51,112 139,554 
			 Fast Stream 36,862 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SEO 309,306 8,155 27,628 49,005 139,211 
			 Vet. Officer 96,534 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 G7 529,639 7,910 13,141 53,091 95,165 
			 G6 208,736 3,048 4,400 22,290 58,249 
			 SCS PB1 plus chief execs 896,822 43,140 47,673 39,191 11,000 
			 SCS PB2 275,702 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SCS PB3 50,500 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			   
			  Grade Equivalent  DEFRA  VLA  RPA  CSL  CEFAS 
			 AA 22,773 1,643 800 2,129 3,251 
			 AO 143,857 1,996 165,704 25,552 94,509 
			 EO 186,459 7,280 165,590 29,127 113,017 
			 HEO 343,955 5,913 80,117 53,359 174,100 
			 Fast Stream 39,624 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SEO 207,280 8,916 36,953 58,728 167,559 
			 Vet Officer 93,163 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 G7 450,138 8,404 18,335 55,996 128,147 
			 G6 238,399 2,509 4,800 28,436 61,175 
			 SCS PB1 plus chief execs 922,590 42,184 51,371 33,391 31,989 
			 SCS PB2 311,600 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 SCS PB3 77,000 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by  (a) the Consumer Council for Water and  (b) the Environment Agency is in 2008-09.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Consumer Council for Water has no vacant or unoccupied properties recorded on the e-PIMS database.
	The Environment Agency has three properties recorded as vacant on the e-PIMS database. The estimated cost of vacant business rates on these properties is 96,000. 92,000 is attributable to one building which has now been sub-let in part. The Environment Agency is actively pursuing disposal of the remainder.
	The Environment Agency has a further five properties that have been vacant in 2008-09, and the estimated cost of business rates on these properties is 24,000.

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's funding framework is for storage of flood water as part of a flood alleviation scheme; from which budget such schemes will be funded; and to which bodies applications for such funding should be made.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Flood storage is one of a number of options available to operating authorities to manage flood risk. Options are appraised in line with Government guidance to ensure schemes are sustainable and cost beneficial. The Environment Agency approves funding for appropriate schemes from the funds allocated under the comprehensive spending review up to delegated Treasury limits. Proposals for schemes to address flood risk should be discussed initially with the Environment Agency for inclusion on the medium term plan for flood risk management schemes.

Floods: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Environment Agency has given to the Highways Authority on building on the flood risk area in relation to the Roscommon Way Extension, Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has met with the Highways Authority consultants, Mouchel Parkman, regarding the proposed extension to Roscommon Way. The Environment Agency informed Mouchel Parkman that the impact of the extension must be fully considered and adequate mitigation measures provided so there is no increased flood risk to the surrounding area.

Floods: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on flood prevention measures in Essex in the last 12 months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: During the financial year 2008-09, the Anglian eastern area of the Environment Agency spent over 17 million on flood protection measures in the Essex catchment. 4.67 million has been spent on the maintenance of rivers and tidal defences, 2.62 million on major refurbishment of existing flood defences and 10.4 million on new or improved flood defences.

Floods: Hull

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of secondary flooding on the time taken for people to be able to return to their homes in Hull.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been 910 incidences of 'secondary flooding' in Hull since January 2008, although the relationship between the flooding in summer 2007 and subsequent water ingress remains to be explored further. The city council is working with the Environment Agency and the university of Hull to understand the factors which contribute to the continuing incidences of water ingress into homes. As of 29 January 2009, of the 472 households displaced from their homes in Hull by flooding, 360 were displaced as a result of water ingress from January 2008 or subsequently.
	The Government are concerned about all households which are still displaced from their homes following the 2007 summer flooding. Approximately 100 households returned each week between the end of June and the middle of November and on that basis we estimate that more than 19 out of every 20 households originally displaced are back home. That compares well to the Carlisle floods in 2005 when one in 10 were still out of their homes after 18 months.
	But we recognise that is no consolation to those still displaced and the Minister for Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) is continuing to work with local authorities and the insurance industry to ensure that the momentum in getting people home is maintained.
	Those families still living wholly or partially in caravans are a particular concern and the Minister for Local Government has linked up with council leaders in the most affected authorities, which include Hull, to offer additional support to help to those households over the winter.

Health Hazards

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department classifies building foam containing ozone depleting substance blowing agents as hazardous.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Most insulation foam containing ozone-depleting substances are currently contained within buildings. At this point, annual emissions are known to be at their lowest and therefore present little risk to the ozone layer.
	On becoming waste, insulation foam containing 0.1 per cent. or more of ozone-depleting substances is classified as hazardous waste. Further information on the classification of hazardous waste is available in the Environment Agency's technical guidance WM2, 'Hazardous waste: Interpreting the definition and classification of hazardous waste, 2nd edition v2.2, 2005 (updated 2008)'.
	DEFRA is working with building industry stakeholders to assess the current infrastructure available for dealing with the recovery or destruction of ozone-depleting substances in building foams and the technical and economic issues that arise.

Marine Management Organisation: Location

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 82-84WS, on the Marine Management Organisation's headquarters, what assessment he has made of the suitability of Plymouth as a site for the Marine Management Organisation's headquarters.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 25 February 2009
	 In a transparent and fair process which involved stakeholders in drawing up a set of business and quality of life criteria and the consultancy firm KPMG carrying out an independent assessment against these criteria, Plymouth was selected as one of the six shortlisted locations for the Marine Management Organisation's headquarters. The criteria used to arrive at the shortlist, and subsequently tested through site visits and presentations from the locations, were:
	Business needs for the MMO HQ such as availability of skilled work force and good transport links.
	Cost and value for money.
	Government policies on location of public sector bodies.
	Quality of Life factors including cost of living, education, employment, healthcare.
	As well as carrying out site visits to further test locations against these criteria, all shortlisted locations were given the opportunity to present their case to be the home of the MMO HQ and I met with MPs from all the shortlisted locations. Plymouth presented a strong case and, like all of the shortlisted locations, would have been a good home for the MMO HQ, allowing the MMO to meet its business needs and benefit from local marine expertise, organisational networks and academic links.
	However, Tyneside demonstrated the strongest and most comprehensive case to be the home of the organisation and provides a location from which the organisation can best achieve its aims. Among other factors, Tyneside has a broad range and good balance of marine interests with a working port, all of which fit well with the role of the MMO. Tyneside also provides strong transport links in terms of access to key stakeholders in London, Brussels and Scotland. There was a compelling demonstration of support from a wide range of stakeholders across the North East region, a region which has benefited little to date from the Lyons Review in respect of the relocation of public sector employment. The extensive evidence of partnership working in the area provided confidence that Tyneside had actively considered the bespoke requirements of the MMO with regard to its role under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister for Farming and the Environment will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 9 December 2008, about tigers being farmed for use in Chinese medicine.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 13 January and a copy of this was sent by officials on 25 February.

River Lymington: Ferries

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take in response to the decision by Wightlink to initiate its new ferry service between Lymington and Yarmouth prior to completion of the appropriate assessment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of  (a) the likely environmental effects on the Lymington Marshes Natura 2000 site and  (b) the compliance with the EU Environmental Liability Directive of the operation of a ferry service between Lymington and Yarmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The introduction of new W class ferries by Wightlink on the Lymington to Yarmouth route is now the subject of legal proceedings against the Department and others. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to answer questions on the subject.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing: Rents

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to allow local authorities to retain all their receipts from council tenants' rent.

Iain Wright: The current system of local authority housing finance is based on a system of surplus authorities (where assumed income exceeds assumed costs) making payment to central Government and deficit authorities (where assumed income is less than assumed costs) receiving subsidy. In the current year approximately 550 million will be paid to deficit authorities in aggregate. So a change to enable all local authorities in surplus to keep their receipts would entail a considerable increase in public expenditure.
	However, CLG and HM Treasury are holding a Review of Council Housing Finance and Rents Policy. Our aim is to have a long term solution to financing council housing that is sustainable and fair to both tenant and taxpayer. The issue of councils retaining all rental receipts is closely bound up with a number of other key policy decisions, including what rents should pay for and how these receipts would be used in a local area. It would be premature to reach conclusions specifically on this matter until the Review reports to Ministers later this year, when it will be considered as part of the overall structure for a new or improved system.

Fire Services: Working Hours

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent meetings she has had on the Working Time Directive in respect of retained firefighters from  (a) the Fire Brigades Union,  (b) the Retained Firefighters Union and  (c) other stakeholders; what representations she has received in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: There have been no recent meetings at ministerial level with  (a) the Fire Brigades' Union,  (b) the Retained Firefighters' Union or  (c) other stakeholders at which the working time directive in respect of firefighters working a retained duty system has been discussed. Written representations about the potential impact on firefighters working a retained duty system of losing the opt-out have been received from the Retained Firefighters' Union, MPs and MSPs.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1076W.

Local Authorities: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 314W, on local authorities: carbon emissions, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter from January 2007; and whether local authorities may carbon offset using projects based in their local authority area.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply
	, and can confirm that the letter in question will be placed in the Libraries of the House. On carbon offsetting, it is very difficult to ensure that UK-based carbon offset projects are truly additionalthat is, that they result in real emission reductions that would not have happened anyway in the absence of carbon finance. For this reason the government's voluntary quality assurance scheme for carbon offsetting which was launched on 26 February 2009 will not cover projects based in the UK. Support for local emission reduction projects can be beneficial, but caution should be exercised in claiming those emission reductions as offsets to balance a carbon footprint.

Local Government Services: Essex

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will hold discussions with Essex County Council on its proposals to outsource services and delivery support functions.

John Healey: The Department has no plans to discuss with Essex county council any procurement exercise that may be proposed on service delivery. Subject to their legal duties, including the duty of best value and public procurement law, local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions. In doing so, they will have regard to available guidance, including that on work force matters.

Multiple Occupation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to consult on amendments to use classes orders in relation to houses in multiple occupation.

Iain Wright: We are committed to consulting on possible changes to the use class order in relation to houses in multiple occupation.
	We are considering the most appropriate mechanism for this consultation, and plan to consult in the spring.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department informed the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) that prescriptive rating of docks was to end; and when the VOA was asked to prepare individual assessments of port businesses.

John Healey: The Government's policy to end the power to prescribe formed part of the long-term policy to apply conventional rating valuation methods across all industry sectors. The ending of prescribed rating was enacted in the Local Government Act 2003. Prescription applied only to the operational land of the statutory port not to other companies or businesses operating under licence or other agreement with exclusive use of property within the boundaries of ports. A separate assessment for such property is a long established principle that applies right across non-domestic rating, including within ports.
	Rateable values are assessed independently by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and this Department is not involved in the process.
	The review of the port rating assessments was undertaken as part of the VOA's statutory duty to maintain correct rating lists. As inaccuracies in the rating assessments were identified, action was taken to correct them.

Rents

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average weekly rent for local housing was in each local housing authority in the latest period for which figures are available, listed from highest to lowest; what the percentage change in average weekly rent in each authority was in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms between (i) 1987 and 1997 and (ii) 1997 and 2007-08, listed from highest to lowest in each case.

Iain Wright: Information on average rent for local housing comes from housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy forms. The latest available figures are at end-April 2008. The average weekly rent for local authority housing in each local authority area for this period, listed from highest to lowest, are provided in table 1. A copy of this table has been placed in the Library.
	Data prior to 1996 on local housing average rent are not held electronically.
	Table 2 provides information on the cash difference and the real terms difference between local authority average rents in 1997 and 2008 for each local authority area, listed from highest to lowest. Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library.
	Not all local authorities are listed because some may have transferred their stock by large scale voluntary transfer (LSVT) to registered social landlords.

Social Rented Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of social housing tenants in each region not in receipt of housing benefit who are  (a) pensioners and (b) of working age.

Iain Wright: Estimates of the number and proportion of social housing tenants not in receipt of housing benefit who are of working age and pensionable age are set out in the following table. These estimates are based on data from the Survey of English Housing.
	
		
			  Social rented households not receiving Housing Benefit, England, 2-year average 2006-07 and 2007-08 
			  Thousand 
			   Households of working age( 1)  Households of pensionable age( 2)  Total 
			 North East 59 24 82 
			 North West 145 51 196 
			 Yorks and Humber 123 45 169 
			 The North 326 120 446 
			 East Midlands 77 32 109 
			 West Midlands 124 34 158 
			 The Midlands 201 66 267 
			 Eastern 125 39 164 
			 London 216 58 273 
			 South-East 137 54 191 
			 South West 85 28 113 
			 The South 563 178 741 
			 
			 England 1,090 364 1,454 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Households of working age( 1)  Households of pensionable age( 2)  Total 
			 North East 71 29 100 
			 North West 74 26 100 
			 Yorks and Humber 73 27 100 
			 The North 73 27 100 
			 East Midlands 71 29 100 
			 West Midlands 78 22 100 
			 The Midlands 75 25 100 
			 Eastern 76 24 100 
			 London 79 21 100 
			 South-East 72 28 100 
			 South West 75 25 100 
			 The South 76 24 100 
			 
			 England 75 25 100 
			 (1) Males aged 16-64, females aged16-59. (2) Males aged 65 or over, females aged 60 or over.  Source: Survey of English Housing

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

British Plastics Federation

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the European Commission to decide on a state aids exemption for the British Plastics Federation climate change agreement.

Joan Ruddock: The UK submitted an application for state aid approval to the proposed climate change agreements with the plastics sector on 27 March 2008. This was followed by a series of exchanges between the European Commission and the Government as the Commission sought additional detailed information. The Government responded to the latest request for additional information on 15 January 2009. The Commission has two months in which to reply.

British Plastics Federation

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on the British Plastics Federation's climate change agreement.

Joan Ruddock: During the last 10 months there has been regular contact between the British Plastics Federation and officials in DECC during which the Government have sought state aid approval of a climate change agreement for the plastics sector.

Carbon Emissions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps are being taken to ensure the effectiveness of the Act on CO2 campaign in all parts of the UK.

Joan Ruddock: Our evaluation of the effectiveness of the Act on CO2 campaign looks at a series of measures including:
	Response (e.g. website usage);
	Campaign awareness, recognition and comprehension (assessed in regular research fieldwork dips); and
	Claimed action and declared propensity to change behaviour (from research, as aforementioned).
	Since the launch of the current 'Save money save energy' phase of the Act on CO2 campaign on 17 September 2008, the Act on CO2 website has had over 550,000 unique visitors. Since its launch in June 2007 to November 2008 there have been over 1.3 million visitors to the Act on CO2 calculator.
	As of December 2008 awareness of the phrase 'Act on CO2' is 72 per cent. and 73 per cent. of respondents currently say they have taken actions or are planning to take actions to reduce their CO2 emissions as a result of the campaign. This compares favourably to 50 per cent. in summer 2007, when research was undertaken to evaluate the first television campaign.
	Act on CO2 is currently ran as an England-only campaign. The Devolved Administrations ran their own bespoke communications approaches and therefore we do not actively pursue or measure its effectiveness within the devolved areas.

Carbon Emissions: Telephone Services

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) set-up and  (b) maintenance costs of the Act on CO2 advice line are; and how many calls have been received on the line since its establishment.

Joan Ruddock: DECC grant fund the Energy Saving Trust (EST) for their work as independent and trusted experts in the carbon abatement field. Total grant funding to EST for 2008-09 was 35.2 million. The EST is contributing to the Government's Act on CO2 campaign by running the Act on CO2 advice line and nationwide network of regional advice centres, which provide the consumer with comprehensive and tailored advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint. The funding of specific EST activities is a matter for EST's board.
	I understand from the Trust that since the establishment of the Act on CO2 advice line in April 2008 it has received 407,944 calls up to December 2008.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what proposals his Department has put forward for an international financing mechanism to fund the UN Climate Change Adaptation Fund; what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer on these proposals; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the UK's level of financial support for the UN Climate Change Adaptation Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Discussions were held across Whitehall in preparation for the agreement by parties that 2 per cent. of the share of proceeds from the Certified Emissions Reductions issued for the Clean Development Mechanism will go towards the Adaptation Fund. This international financing mechanism is now in place. The UK Government are working with others on the Adaptation Fund Board to establish sound operational procedures for the Adaptation Fund to ensure that it will meet international fiduciary standards and be an effective mechanism for delivering increased finance where it is needed. The UK Government take the subject of adaptation finance extremely seriously and recognise that the process will be complex and will take time to get right.
	The board's approach to making the fund operational was approved by parties in Poznan, thus enabling it to start operations in 2009. The board is now working to put in place the mechanisms it set out in the approach submitted to parties in Poznan, and the UK continues to play a key role in assisting the board to find innovative ways to enable the fund to become operational this year. The UK was the board's biggest financial supporter in 2008 (500,000) and has set aside an additional 500,000 for 2009 to assist the board in its work to set up the necessary operational structures to enable direct access.
	Discussions by parties in Poznan revealed weaknesses in the governance structure of the Adaptation Fund, which have restricted the authority and operational efficacy of the board. These will need to be addressed to ensure that the fund will be able to make decisions on allocation of funding that are not affected by political considerations. This process has been particularly challenging as parties have requested access to funding without the assistance of intermediaries. The international community has thus far relied on these to provide sound fiduciary risk management for international assistance to developing countries. The UK has been playing a key role in the board to find ways to facilitate such direct access to funding.
	The UK Government will be considering options for scaling up the movement of international financial assistance through the Adaptation Fund after consideration of the adequacy of the implementation structures the fund will have put in place this year, and in line with our wider objectives on the international financial architecture. It is clear that a blend of options will offer the best prospects of raising the level of funding required. Our vision is of a climate 'compact' between developed and developing countries whereby funds are disbursed at scale on the basis of national plans that integrate mitigation and adaptation needs alongside development priorities.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by what date he expects his Department's Nuclear Directorate office in Cheltenham to be operational.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Nuclear Directorates management team are currently working on the Cheltenham office being operational as soon as possible, subject to contract negotiations and furnishing to make ready for staff.

Departmental Correspondence

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the address of his Department's Nuclear Directorate is.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Nuclear Directorate's address is:
	Redgrave Court
	Merton Road
	Bootle
	Merseyside
	L20 7HS.

Departmental Manpower

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff of his Department are based at its Nuclear Directorate's offices in London; and how many are in each civil service pay band.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Nuclear Directorate (ND) currently has seven members of staff located at ND's London based office. The breakdown of staff in each civil service pay band is as follows:
	
		
			  Civil service pay band  Number of staff  HSE equivalent grade 
			 UG7 3 Band 2 
			 SEO 1 Band 3 
			 HEO 1 Band 4 
			 EO 1 Band 5 
			 AO 1 Band 6 
		
	
	In addition ND currently have a further two Health and Safety Executive members of staff on attachment to the directorate working in their London office as follows:
	
		
			  Civil service pay band  Number of staff  HSE equivalent grade 
			 UG6 1 Band 1 
			 AO 1 Band 6

Energy: Conservation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the use of blinds and awnings as energy efficient products in domestic and commercial property; and whether officials of his Department have met representatives of the blind and awning industry.

Joan Ruddock: As far as it is possible to establish, DECC Ministers and officials have not met with or received representations from any representatives of this industry.

Energy: Conservation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has undertaken on the effect on energy efficiency of the use of blinds and awnings in domestic and commercial buildings.

Joan Ruddock: The Department has undertaken no specific research on the effect on energy efficiency of the use of blinds and awnings in domestic and commercial buildings. Nonetheless, the benefits of blinds and awnings are understood and included in our National Calculation Methodologies, by which building related energy efficiency measures are assessed.

Energy: Finance

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the availability of private finance initiative credits for energy infrastructure projects.

Mike O'Brien: DECC does not receive any PFI credits.
	Treasury is the Department responsible for allocating PFI credits among Departments.

Environmental Transformation Fund

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change through which sub-funds of bilateral and multilateral organisations Environmental Transformation Fund disbursements will be channelled in the next two years.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 23 February 2009
	The UK (the Department for International Development (DFID) and my Department) has allocated the 800 million Environmental Transformation Fund to the World Bank-administered Climate Investment Funds. The Climate Investment Funds are divided into the Clean Technology Fund and the Strategic Climate Fund. Sub-programmes of the latter include: the Pilot programme for climate resilience, and two programmes under development: the Forest Investment programme and the Scaling-up Renewable Energy programme. The funds will be administered by the World Bank with individual programmes implemented through any one of the Multilateral Development Banks. Decisions are made by recipient countries on the basis of their country-led investment plans. We expect UN agencies to participate as delivery agents.
	More information can be viewed at:
	www.WorldBank.org/cif
	http://www.worldbank.org/cif

Environmental Transformation Fund

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with which other Government Departments his Department works in administering the Environmental Transformation Fund; what the arrangements are for doing so; and what  (a) administrative,  (b) accounting and  (c) reporting structures are in place for this purpose.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 232 February 2009
	 The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The UK (the Department for International Development and my Department) has allocated the 800 million Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) to the World Bank administered Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). The administration of the funds is overseen across Whitehall by the ETF board consisting of representatives of my Department, the Department for International Development, HM Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A cross-Whitehall team provides secretariat support to the board for UK administration of the funds.
	 (b) The funds will be administered by the World Bank with individual programmes implemented through any one of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB). The World Bank is the administrator and trustee of the funds. It produces quarterly reports on financial progress and annual audited reports of accounts to the UK.
	 (c) As a minimum, each MDB will report annually to the Strategic Climate Fund Trust Fund Committee on the monitoring and evaluation it has conducted in accordance with their procedures. The governance framework can be viewed at:
	www.WorldBank.org/cif
	The UK is in discussions with the Clean Technology Fund and Strategic Climate Fund Trust Fund Committees about the best reporting criteria framework for the funds. An independent evaluation of the operations of the Climate Investment Funds and the impact of their activities will be conducted. This will be carried out jointly with the MDBs after three years of operation.

Fuel Poverty

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he next expects to release up-to-date figures on the number of people living in fuel poverty.

Joan Ruddock: The Government intends to publish updated figures on the number of people living in fuel poverty in its next annual progress report on the fuel poverty strategy to be published later in the year.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letters of 5 November and 9 December 2008 from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare sent on behalf of a constituent, Mr. Richard Cains.

Joan Ruddock: A letter from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare was received on 9 December 2008 but not one dated 5 November 2008. My officials have been in contact with his office to request the original letter with the details of his constituent's concerns and I will then reply to the hon. Member.

Nuclear Power Stations: Inspections

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Veredus on the pay and conditions of nuclear inspectors.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Veredus report was commissioned by the HSE to inform its consideration of the appropriate remuneration package to retain and recruit the nuclear inspectors it needs. As such it is very pertinent to the ongoing pay negotiations that the HSE is conducting at present as well as the negotiations that will take place in setting ND up as a statutory corporation under HSE auspices. Consequently, it is not considered appropriate to place a copy in the Library at this time.

Nuclear Power: Regulation

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the full version of Dr Tim Stone's recommendations to his Department on nuclear regulation following his nuclear regulatory review.

Mike O'Brien: In January 2008, following the publication of the White Paper on Nuclear Power, the Government asked Dr. Tim Stone to conduct a review of nuclear regulation. On 27 January 2009 we published the Summary Recommendations and a Government Response.
	The Summary Recommendations set out all of Dr. Stone's recommendations. They were supported by private advice to Ministers, which was not intended for publication.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the value of the administration fee paid to Eaga in regard to the Warm Front scheme was in each of the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: Eaga has been the main contractor for Warm Front across the country since 2005. Since that point, the administration fees paid have been:
	
		
			   Administration cost ()  Percentage t otal of budget 
			 2005-06 18,048,000 9.6 
			 2006-07 25,551,000 9.1 
			 2007-08 31,464,000 8.9 
			 2008-09 (Forecast) 20,563,000 6.5

Warm Front Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for Warm Front grants have been  (a) made and  (b) refused in the last 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: Over the last year Warm Front has received applications from 308,915 households that are entitled to a Warm Front grant. Warm Front does not record the number of ineligible households that approach the scheme seeking assistance.

Warm Front Scheme: Contracts

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how frequently payments to Eaga are made in respect of its management of the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: Eaga is paid management fees on a monthly basis.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard rifle used by  (a) the Royal Marine Commando,  (b) each UK special force and  (c) each other UK service is in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: The standard rifle used by all UK forces, excluding Special Forces, is the SA80 A2. It is the policy of this Department not to comment on matters relating to UK Special Forces.

Aircraft Carriers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Future Aircraft Carrier main gate business case submission.

Quentin Davies: I am withholding the requested document as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests in relation to the Future Aircraft Carrier project.

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign nationals are serving in the armed forces, broken down by  (a) country of origin and  (b) service.

Bob Ainsworth: Country of origin data are not currently available due to an ongoing data validation of the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administrative system (JPA). The following tables show the number of non-British nationals currently serving in the trained UK Regular armed forces as at 1 December 2008 by recorded nationality category on JPA and service.
	
		
			   Number 
			  Navy total non-UK 630 
			   
			  Navy Commonwealth( 1) 580 
			 Australian 10 
			 Barbadian (2) 
			 Botswanan (2) 
			 Cameroonian (2) 
			 Canadian 20 
			 Citizen of Fiji 100 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka (2) 
			 Dominican 10 
			 Gambian 10 
			 Ghanaian 10 
			 Grenadian (2) 
			 Guyanese (2) 
			 Indian 10 
			 Jamaican 30 
			 Kenyan 10 
			 Malawian 10 
			 Malaysian (2) 
			 Maltese (2) 
			 Mauritian (2) 
			 New Zealander 10 
			 Nigerian 10 
			 Pakistani (2) 
			 Sierra Leonean (2) 
			 South African 60 
			 St. Lucian 10 
			 Trinidad and Tobago citizen 30 
			 Ugandan (2) 
			 Vincentian 200 
			 Zambian 10 
			 Zimbabwean 20 
			   
			  Navy other foreign 60 
			 Dutch (2) 
			 Irish 50 
			 Ukrainian (2) 
			 United States citizen (2) 
			 (1) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981. (2) Denotes fewer than five.  Notes:  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are provisional due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System. 3. Figures are for trained UK Regular forces, and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and mobilised reservists.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	
		
			   Number 
			  Army total non-UK 6,770 
			   
			  Army Commonwealth( 1) 6,320 
			 Antiguan (2) 
			 Australian 60 
			 Bahamian (2) 
			 Bangladeshi 10 
			 Barbadian 10 
			 Belizean (2) 
			 Botswanan 10 
			 British Commonwealth 10 
			 Cameroonian 40 
			 Canadian 50 
			 Citizen of Fiji 2,110 
			 Citizen of Seychelles 10 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka 10 
			 Citizen of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis (2) 
			 Dominican 20 
			 Gambian 150 
			 Ghanaian 730 
			 Grenadian 50 
			 Guyanese 20 
			 Indian 70 
			 Jamaican 600 
			 Kenyan 120 
			 Malawian 160 
			 Malaysian (2) 
			 Maltese (2) 
			 Mauritian 40 
			 Namibian (2) 
			 New Zealander 60 
			 Nigerian 110 
			 Pakistani 10 
			 Papua New Guinean (2) 
			 Sierra Leonean 40 
			 Singaporean (2) 
			 South African 760 
			 St. Lucian 190 
			 Swazi 10 
			 Tanzanian (2) 
			 Tongan 10 
			 Trinidad and Tobago citizen 70 
			 Ugandan 70 
			 Vincentian 230 
			 Zambian 20 
			 Zimbabwean 440 
			   
			  Army other foreign 450 
			 Afghan (2) 
			 Brazilian (2) 
			 Filipino (2) 
			 Foreign (2) 
			 French (2) 
			 German (2) 
			 Greek (2) 
			 Irish 210 
			 Mauritanian (2) 
			 Nepalese 220 
			 Swiss (2) 
			 United States citizen (2) 
			 (1) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981. (2) Denotes fewer than five.  Notes:  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are provisional due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System. 3. Figures are for trained UK Regular forces, and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and mobilised reservists.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	
		
			   Number 
			  Royal Air Force total non-UK 90 
			   
			  Royal Air Force Commonwealth( 1) 60 
			 Australian (2) 
			 Canadian (2) 
			 Citizen of Fiji 10 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka (2) 
			 Ghanaian (2) 
			 Grenadian (2) 
			 Indian (2) 
			 Jamaican 10 
			 Kenyan (2) 
			 Malawian (2) 
			 Malaysian (2) 
			 Mauritian (2) 
			 New Zealander (2) 
			 South African 10 
			 St. Lucian (2) 
			 Trinidad and Tobago citizen 10 
			 Vincentian (2) 
			 Zimbabwean (2) 
			   
			  Royal Air Force other foreign 30 
			 Irish 20 
			 United States citizen (2) 
			 (1) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981. (2) Denotes fewer than five.  Notes:  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are provisional due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System. 3. Figures are for trained UK Regular forces, and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and mobilised reservists.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service)

Armed Forces: Pay

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current salary bill for all service personnel is, broken down by  (a) service and  (b) rank.

Kevan Jones: The most recently published total salary bill (including allowances) for service personnel broken down by service can be found in the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency Annual Report and Accounts for Financial Year 2007-08. A copy of this is held in the Library of the House. For ease of reference, details are reproduced as follows:
	
		
			  Service  Total ( billion) 
			 Royal Navy 1.72 
			 Army 4.46 
			 RAF 1.97 
			 Total 8.15 
		
	
	A breakdown of the total salary bill by rank is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Working Hours

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours on average were worked by  (a) junior and  (b) senior service personnel at each rank of each service in each age band in each week of the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally on administration systems. However Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a Continuous Survey of Working Patterns which is used to provide estimates of the average weekly hours worked over a financial year.
	The estimates provided within the report are broken down by service, rank group and broad location. Information on age is not collected within this survey and hence breakdowns by age are not available.
	Due to the size of the sample survey estimates are only considered to be statistically valid over long time periods, as such estimates could not be provided for each week.
	The 2006-07 copy of the Continuous Survey of Working Patterns report is available in the Library of the House.
	The 2007-08 report will be placed in the Library of the House by the end of April 2009.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured vehicles of each type are  (a) in service with the Army and  (b) in working order.

Quentin Davies: The term 'working order' has been interpreted as 'fit for purpose' . Several vehicle platforms have been undergoing radio conversion work, repairs and overhauls and have therefore been taken out of service on a rolling basis to enable this work to take place. This has affected the number of fit for purpose vehicles available, which may change on a daily basis.
	As at 24 February 2009, the information requested is:
	
		
			  Vehicle type  Number 'in service'  Number 'fit for purpose' 
			 Challenger 2 345 322 
			 Driver Track Training Vehicle 22 21 
			 Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle 81 75 
			 Trojan 20 20 
			 Titan 18 18 
			 Warrior 793 563 
			 Saxon 147 143 
			 Samson 52 30 
			 Spartan 495 231 
			 Scimitar 331 228 
			 Samaritan 50 33 
			 Sultan 205 119 
			 Snatch Land Rover 645 580 
			 FV430 834 466 
			 Mastiff 107 107 
			 Jackal 145 134 
			 Vector 178 168 
			 Bulldog 656 652 
			 Panther 186 100

Defence: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast cost of the Falcon programme was from the  (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL),  (b) indirect resource DEL and  (c) capital DEL at 31 March (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008.

Quentin Davies: The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures include the cost of the assessment, demonstration and manufacture phases.
	
		
			   million 
			   31 March 2007  31 March 2008 
			 Direct Resource DEL 31 31 
			 Indirect Resource DEL 10 10 
			 Capital DEL 282 281 
			
			 Total 323 322 
		
	
	These figures are for Increment A of Falcon only. Increment C costs will be reported in MPR09.

Defence: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast cost of the Naval Extremely High Frequency/Super High Frequency Satellite Communication Terminal Programme was from the  (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL),  (b) indirect resource DEL and  (c) capital DEL at 31 March (i) 2004, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2006, (iv) 2007 and (v) 2008.

Quentin Davies: The information is shown in the following table. The figures include the cost of the assessment, demonstration and manufacture phases.
	
		
			   million 
			   31 March 2004  31 March 2005  31 March 2006  31 March 2007  31 March 2008 
			 Direct Resource DEL 97 87 87 92 51 
			 Indirect Resource DEL 12 17 17 13 13 
			 Capital DEL 163 145 147 132 139 
			   
			 Total 272 249 251 237 203

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Kevan Jones: A list of buildings occupied by this Department and its agencies, for which display energy certificates and advisory reports have been produced, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Copies of the certificates and advisory reports for each building can be accessed from the Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Register through the following link:
	https://www.ndepcregister.com/

Departmental Civil Servants

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the information placed in the Library in relation to the Answer of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1175W, on departmental civil servants, what the job descriptions are for the job family classifications  (a) business management and improvement,  (b) corporate support,  (c) engineering and science,  (d) estates,  (e) logistics and  (f) security, health and safety.

Kevan Jones: The following tables show the lists of job codes contained in each job family:
	
		
			  (a) Business management and improvement 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Business Management and Improvement Consultancy 
			  Audit and Assurance 
			  Business Management 
			  Performance Management 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Corporate support 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Corporate Support Administrative Support 
			  Secretarial 
			  Community Development Work 
			  Community Service 
			  Customer Services 
			  Defence Export Services 
			  Direct Military Support 
			  Disposal Services 
			  Economics 
			  Epidemiology 
			  Occupational Psychology 
			  Secretariat and Private Office 
			  Statistical Analysis 
			  Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Engineering and science 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Engineering and Science Acoustics 
			  AeroEng (Aero/Struct) Mech 
			  AeroEng (Electronics/Avionics) 
			  Chemical/Bio Science and Tech 
			  Combat Systems Engineering 
			  Computer Science and Engineering 
			  Engineering Civ Apprentices 
			  Land Sys Eng (Elec/Electronic) 
			  Land Sys Eng (Struct/Mech) 
			  Land Systems Eng (Weapons) 
			  Marine Engineering 
			  Naval Architecture 
			  Nuclear Propulsion 
			  Nuclear Weapons 
			  Operational Analysis 
			  Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives 
			  Science and Technology Management 
			  Science and Technology Policy 
			  Scrutiny 
			  Systems Engineering 
			  Technical (Trades) 
			  Weapons Engineering 
		
	
	
		
			  (d) Estates 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Estates Facilities Management 
			  Building 
			  Building Surveying 
			  Estate Advice 
			  Estate Planning 
			  Estate Surveying 
			  Forestry 
			  Housing Customer Care 
			  Quantity Surveying 
			  Range Management 
			  Site Estate 
			  Soft Facilities Management 
			  Town and Country Planning 
		
	
	
		
			  (e) Logistics 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Logistics Integrated Logistics Support 
			  Logistics Management 
			  Transport/Movement 
			  Driving 
			  Afloat Support Group 
			  Configuration Management 
			  Engineering and Technical Support 
			  Inventory Management 
			  Inventory Planning 
			  Logistics (Trades) 
			  Material Accounting 
			  Platform Support Group 
			  Port Operations 
			  Postal and Courier 
			  Salvage and Marine Operations 
			  Storekeeping/Warehouse Ops 
			  Supply Chain Mgt and Policy 
		
	
	
		
			  (f) Security, health and safety 
			  Job family  Job code 
			 Security, Health and Safety Safety Management 
			  Fire Service 
			  Security 
			  Armed Policing (MDP) 
			  Business Continuity 
			  Case Assessment 
			  Criminal Investigation (MDP) 
			  Customs and Immigration 
			  General Policing (MDP) 
			  IT Security 
			  Marine Policing (MDP) 
			  MGS Dog Handling 
			  MGS Unarmed Guarding 
			  Operational Support Unit (MDP) 
			  Police Dog Handling (MDP) 
			  Project Security Officer 
			  Safety, Health, Environment and Fire 
			  Security Advice 
			  Security Management 
			  Security Policy 
			  Security Support 
			  Sovereign Base Area Policing 
			  Special Escort Group (MDP)

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Numbers of MOD civilian sick absence episodes of over 30 calendar days, over 50 calendar days and over 100 calendar days in the calendar years ending 31 December 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of civilian sick absence episodes 
			   30-49 calendar days  50-99 calendar days  100 or more calendar days 
			 2005 2,700 2,750 1,920 
			 2006 2,410 2,160 1,680 
			 2007 2,200 2,180 1,600 
			 2008 2,020 1,940 1,470 
			  Notes: 1. These figures exclude staff in Trading Funds (as the data are of insufficient quality), and exclude the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and locally engaged civilians for whom sickness absence data are not centrally recorded. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Any portion of a sick absence episode that falls outside the relevant calendar year is not included in that year. 
		
	
	Information prior to the 12 months ending 31 December 2005 was compiled on a previous methodology and definition for monitoring sickness absence, which is not consistent with figures for later years.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed services personnel will be required to undertake a lengthened tour in Iraq so that their departure coincides with the date of UK armed forces withdrawal.

John Hutton: Plans are currently being finalised for the withdrawal of personnel from southern Iraq. Every effort is being made to ensure that the number of personnel required to remain in Theatre beyond their expected tour lengths is minimised.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual number of helicopter crews for each helicopter type in the armed forces is, broken down by service.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of aircrew individuals for each helicopter type broken down by service are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Required strength  Actual strength 
			  Army Air Corps   
			 Apache AH Mk 1 120 68 
			 Lynx Mk 7/9 120 120 
			 Gazelle Mkl 34 35 
			 AgustaA109 6 6 
			 Bell 212 24 24 
			
			  School of Army Aviation( 1) 46 43 
			
			  Royal Navy   
			 Sea King Mk 4/6c 139 139 
			 Lynx Mk 3/8 96 96 
			 Lynx Mk 7/9 30 30 
			 Merlin Mk 1 168 154 
			 Sea King Mk 5 65 56 
			 Sea King Mk 7 48 38 
			
			  Royal Air Force   
			 Chinook Mk 2/2a 246 220 
			 Puma Mk 1 139 119 
			 Merlin Mk 3/3a 151 116 
			 SAR Sea King Mk 3/3a 149 136 
			
			  Defence Helicopter Flying School   
			 Squirrel 16 16 
			 Griffin 72 63 
			 (1) SAAVN figures cannot be split by aircraft type (AH/Squirrel/Lynx/Gazelle).

Museums and Galleries: VAT

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the retail prices for (a) entry and  (b) guided tours have been reduced at the (i) National Army Museum, (ii) Royal Air Force Museum, (iii) Royal Marines Museum, (iv) Royal Naval Museum and (v) Royal Naval Submarine Museum as a result of the December 2008 reduction in value added tax.

Kevan Jones: This is a matter for the individual museums.

Navy: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships will take part in the forthcoming NATO maritime operation in the Gulf of Aden.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy is not involved in the forthcoming NATO maritime operation in the Gulf of Aden.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British personnel were involved in the design competition for the Reliable Replacement Warhead.

John Hutton: No.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British personnel were briefed on the results of the Reliable Replacement Warhead design competition.

John Hutton: Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Weapons Establishment regularly discuss a range of nuclear matters with their US counterparts under the auspices of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. I am withholding information about the detail of these discussions in the interests of national security.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the date was of each meeting of the Joint Working Group since 2001; and what the purpose of each meeting was.

John Hutton: The following Joint Working Groups (JOWOGS) operate under the auspices of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement:
	
		
			  Joint working group  Title 
			 6 Radiation Simulation and Kinetic Effects 
			 9 Energetic Materials 
			 22 Nuclear Materials 
			 23 Warhead Electrical Components and Technologies 
			 28 Non-Nuclear Materials 
			 29 Nuclear Counter-Terrorism Technology 
			 30 Facilities 
			 31 Nuclear Weapons Engineering 
			 32 Nuclear Warhead Physics 
			 34 Computational Technology 
			 36 Aircraft, Missile and Space System Hardening 
			 37 Laboratory Plasma Physics 
			 39 Manufacturing Practices 
			 41 Nuclear Warhead Accident Response 
			 42 Nuclear Weapon Code Development 
			 43 Nuclear Weapon Environment and Damage Effects 
			 44 Methodologies for Nuclear Weapon Safety Assurance 
		
	
	Since January 2001 the following number of JOWOG and JOWOG related meetings have taken place:
	
		
			   Meetings in the US  Meetings in the UK  Total number of meetings 
			 2001 118 62 180 
			 2002 133 66 199 
			 2003 133 58 191 
			 2004 118 87 205 
			 2005 168 75 243 
			 2006 159 80 239 
			 2007 207 91 298 
			 2008 187 93 280 
			 2009 (to date) 23 10 33 
		
	
	I am withholding further detail of the content of JOWOG discussions in the interests of national security.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits have been made by  (a) US personnel to Aldermaston and  (b) Aldermaston personnel to (i) Los Alamos, (ii) Sandia and (iii) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in each year since 2003; and what the purpose of each of those visits was.

John Hutton: The total number of visits by Atomic Weapons Establishment personnel to each of the US national laboratories and vice versa in support of all aspects of work covered by the Mutual Defence Agreement (including the Polaris Sales Agreement as amended for Trident), is as follows:
	
		
			   To Los Alamos  From Los Alamos 
			 2003 228 242 
			 2004 130 215 
			 2005 183 152 
			 2006 194 170 
			 2007 312 182 
			 2008 217 255 
			 2009 (to date) 35 37 
		
	
	
		
			   To Sandia  From Sandia 
			 2003 155 104 
			 2004 162 103 
			 2005 271 70 
			 2006 213 104 
			 2007 288 151 
			 2008 291 185 
			 2009 (to date) 93 13 
		
	
	
		
			   To Lawrence Livermore  From Lawrence Livermore 
			 2003 104 87 
			 2004 123 93 
			 2005 205 105 
			 2006 156 97 
			 2007 217 143 
			 2008 149 140 
			 2009 (to date) 28 13 
		
	
	These figures include personnel making more than one visit, and visits to several sites during a single trip.
	I am withholding further detail of the purpose of these visits in the interests of national security.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether scientists from the United States have made use of hydrodynamic facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment for experiments on US warhead designs.

John Hutton: Under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, joint UK/US hydrodynamic experiments have been carried out to ensure the continued safety, security, and performance of our current nuclear stockpiles.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Detainees: Mentally Ill

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people detained in a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 were held in police cells in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were detained in a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	Comprehensive national information on the number of people detained in a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 is not available.
	Statistics are published by the Information Centre for health and social care on detentions under section 136 in hospitals in England and by the Welsh Assembly Government on detentions under that section in mental health facilities in Wales. Information on the number of such detentions is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of detentions under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in hospitals in England and in mental health facilities in Wales, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			   Number of detentions 
			   England  Wales 
			 2003-04 4,106 239 
			 2004-05 4,765 217 
			 2005-06 5,495 263 
			 2006-07 6,004 316 
			 2007-08 7,035 355 
			  Sources: 1. In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation, England: 1997-98 to 2007-08, Information Centre for Health and Social Care, October 2008; 2 Admission of patients to mental health facilities in Wales (Including patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983), Statistical Release 167/2008, Welsh Assembly Government, October 2008. 
		
	
	Equivalent information about detentions in police custody is not available. Research by the Independent Police Complaints Commission estimated that a total of 11,517 people were detained in police stations in England and Wales under section 136 in 2005-06.

Detainees: Prostitution

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals who had worked as a prostitute in the UK were subsequently detained in prison in each year since 2000.

Shahid Malik: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not held centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Justice (Mr. Hanson) to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on 10 December 2008,  Official Report, column 116W.
	The legal background to the offence of being a common prostitute, loitering, or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution is contained in Section 1 of the Street Offences Act, 1959.
	Under the Act the maximum penalty for this offence is a fine, not imprisonment. Figures obtained from the prison service IT system confirm that there are currently no women serving prison sentences for the offence. Non-payment of any fine accruing from the offence would be recorded as defaulting on the payment of the fine.
	It is not known how many males or females who previously worked as prostitutes have subsequently been detained in prison.
	This is the position regarding England and Wales; for information regarding the legal position and a response to the question as it applies to Scotland and Northern Ireland it would be necessary to approach the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

Human Trafficking: Victims

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much her Department is spending on the Poppy project in 2008-09;
	(2)  what capacity the Poppy project has to provide intensive support for the initial four-week support period;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to monitor the work of the Poppy project, including  (a) how public funds are spent,  (b) the capacity of the project in relation to demand,  (c) the quality of counselling provided and  (d) checks on volunteers;
	(4)  how many  (a) full-time staff,  (b) fully-qualified counsellors and  (c) fully-qualified translators are employed by the Poppy project;
	(5)  what conditions apply to people receiving services provided by the Poppy project on  (a) the initial four-week support,  (b) support for resettlement,  (c) compensation through (i) the courts and (ii) the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and  (d) eligibility for the new renewable one-year residence permits;
	(6)  how many identified victims of trafficking received from the Poppy project  (a) the initial four week support,  (b) support for resettlement,  (c) compensation through (i) the courts and (ii) the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme,  (d) eligibility for the new renewable one-year residence permits and  (e) other services in each of the last five years;
	(7)  how many identified victims of trafficking were denied services from the Poppy project in each of the last five years due to (a) the project's limited capacity and (b) the refusal by the victim to co-operate with prosecutions; and what other options for support are available for victims in such cases.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have invested 5.8 million into Eaves Housing for Women to run the Poppy project since 2003. The grant for this financial year is 1.3 million. This provides for a range of services including 35 supported accommodation places and eight full-time staff. While the project facilitates access to counselling and interpretative services and can pay for this where necessary, it does not directly employ these professionals.
	Eaves Housing for Women is required to submit regular monitoring and financial information, which is reviewed on a quarterly basis. The organisation does not submit any specific information on the use of volunteers. However the organisation is required to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of clients, which includes undertaking Criminal Records Bureau checks for staff and volunteers.
	Under the terms of the grant clients can be supported for an initial four weeks, with longer-term services provided in return for cooperation with the authorities. To qualify for support women must be over 18-years-old, trafficked into the United Kingdom and sexually exploited through prostitution in the United Kingdom.
	Between March 2003 and December 2008, 423 women received support from the Poppy project; 215 benefited from supported accommodation and 208 received outreach support. The Poppy project has developed partnerships with other organisations to help provide alternative services for individuals that do not meet the eligibility criteria or when the project is at capacity. Information on the number of individuals that have been unable to access the Poppy project is not held centrally.
	It is open to the courts to award compensation orders in favour of a victim of crime and victims of violence can also apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. While the Poppy project can inform victims of avenues to access compensation, it is not within their authority to determine eligibility for, or administer compensation.
	This year we will be expanding support services for victims of human trafficking and extending the reflection and recovery period to a minimum of 45 days. The Government will also introduce new renewable temporary residence permits for identified victims of human trafficking that participate in a criminal investigation.

Identity Cards: Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Identity Cards Gateway Review will be published under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	On 19 February 2009 the Information Tribunal ordered Office of Government Commerce to disclose two Gate 0 reports, dated June 2003 and January 2004, on the Identity Cards Programme. OGC, in consultation with Ministers, officials at the Home Office and MoJ, are currently considering the detail of the decision. OGC has until 19 March 2009 to disclose the reports or to appeal further.

JUSTICE

Crimes of Violence: Winchester

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases of  (a) rape,  (b) grievous bodily harm,  (c) actual bodily harm and  (d) burglary were recorded in Winchester in each of the last five years; and how many (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions there were in relation to such offences in each category in each of those years.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of recorded offences of rape and burglary in the Winchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area has been provided by the Home Office and is shown in the following table 1. However, there are no statistics currently available relating specifically to offences of grievous bodily harm or actual bodily harm. Such offences would be included in the Home Office classifications of 'more serious wounding' or 'less serious wounding' as appropriate and cannot be separately identified from other offences within those classifications.
	From data held by the Ministry of Justice, the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to rape, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, and burglary in Hampshire police force area can be viewed in Table 2 as follows.
	Court proceedings data are not available at constituency level. Therefore Hampshire police force area data have been provided in lieu.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	Recorded crime and court proceedings statistics are from two different databases and recorded in quite different ways. Recorded crime data are provided on a financial year basis and counts offences whereas court proceedings data are on a calendar year basis and count offenders. Therefore, these two separate data-sets are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences of rape and burglary recorded by the police in the Winchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Number of offences 
			   Rape  Burglary 
			 2003-04 21 966 
			 2004-05 23 706 
			 2005-06 16 706 
			 2006-07 23 722 
			 2007-08  724 
			  Source: Home Office Statistics (Policing) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty at all courts for rape, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, and burglary offences in Hampshire police force area, 2003 to 2007( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Offence  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Rape 91 84 98 62 90 10 14 27 30 25 
			 Grievous bodily harm 191 161 167 130 154 46 54 54 42 40 
			 Actual bodily harm 162 148 164 156 131 127 136 133 134 122 
			 Burglary 1,111 999 844 813 774 658 644 601 627 567 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Offences against the Person Act 1861 Sec 18. Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Offences against the Person Art 1861 Sec 20. Malicious wounding: wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm. Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.l Rape of a female aged under 16. Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.l Rape of a female aged 16 or over. Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.l Rape of a male aged under 16. Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.l Rape of a male aged 16 or over Burglary in a Dwelling : Theft Act 1968 Sec 9(l)(a). Burglary in a dwelling with intent to commit or the commission of an offence triable only on indictment. Theft Act 1968 Sec9(l)(b). Burglary in a dwelling with the commission of an offence triable only on indictment or with violence or the threat of violence. Theft Act 1968 Sec 9. Other burglary in a dwelling. Aggravated Burglary in a Dwelling: Theft Act 1968 Sec 10. Aggravated burglary in a dwelling (including attempts). Burglary in a Building Other than a Dwelling Theft Act 1968 Sec 9. Burglary in a building other than a dwelling with intent to commit or the commission of an offence triable only on indictment. Theft Act 1968 Sec 9.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Debt Collection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of each guidance document produced by  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) HM Courts Service on the use of bailiffs' powers of forced entry under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Bridget Prentice: Only one set of guidance has been published by my Department, and its predecessor, on the use of bailiffs' powers of forced entry under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.
	A copy of HMCS's Search and Entry Powers (Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004) Guidance to Civilian Enforcement Officers and Approved Enforcement Agents was placed in the Libraries of the House in January. The guidance contains a number of redactions for reasons of public interest and on health and safety grounds.

Departmental NDPBs: Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the  (a) Land Registry,  (b) National Probation Directorate and  (c) HM Courts Service is in 2008-09.

Michael Wills: The estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database in 2008-09 owned by the  (a) Land Registry is 14,900 and  (b) National Probation Directorate is 53,650. NPD also maintain their own database which is updated more regularly and which shows a figure of 170,000 for the same period.  (c) HM Courts Service is 349,570.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each year since his Department was established.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 6W. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.

Discrimination: Legal Aid

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much legal aid has been granted to claimants in cases relating to alleged discrimination of each type in  (a) goods and services and  (b) employment in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not hold data on claims in relation to alleged discrimination in the supply of goods and services as this is not a recognised category of legal aid work. Any relevant funding may have been granted under other categories of work such as public law or consumer.
	In the employment category, where legal help is available and civil representation in certain cases, the LSC does not record which of those cases involve discrimination issues.

Personal Records: Data Protection

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on provisions in the Coroners and Justice Bill to facilitate data sharing between public authorities and private sector firms.

Jack Straw: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues, including on the Coroners and Justice Bill, which have covered data sharing between public authorities and private sector firms.

Political Parties: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 519W, on political parties: finance, which public authority will decide whether an hon. Member's expenditure was triggered as a result of breaching the rules on the communications allowance.

Jack Straw: Potential breaches of the rules on the use of parliamentary allowances, including the communications allowance, are investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which reports to the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee.
	However, it is not for the Commissioner to rule on whether that expenditure should then be regarded as a candidate election expense under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (the 1983 Act). Rather, as with any other potential item of election expenditure, responsibility lies with the candidate and agent to consider whether expenditure meets the definition of election expenditure used by the 1983 Act and, if so, to ensure that the expenditure in question is recorded on the candidate spending return as required under section 81 of the 1983 Act. This states that such a return must include a statement of all election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate. Section 82 of the 1983 Act requires that this return be accompanied by declarations by the candidate and election agent which verify the return. It is a corrupt practice knowingly to make a false declaration under section 82. It is an illegal practice to fail to comply with the requirements of section 81 or section 82.
	Breaches of the 1983 Act are pursued through the courts.
	Illegal practices in the 1983 Act are triable summarily. Corrupt practices in the 1983 Act are triable summarily or on indictment. It would therefore ultimately be a matter for the relevant court to decide whether a particular item of expenditure was knowingly excluded from a candidate's expenditure return where it should clearly have been recorded. In reaching its decision, the court could well take into account any judgment from the Commissioner of Standards in relation to expenditure which breached the rules on the use of parliamentary allowances, should the court consider this relevant.

Prisons: Fires

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fires there have been in each prison in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: All fires recorded range from a simple piece of paper lit and thrown out of a cell window to fires resulting in damage to cells, which are less frequent. During the last year we have invested 20 million in fire safety systems in the refurbishment of the prison estate. It should be noted that deaths from fires in prisons are rare and there have been two in the last five years.
	The following table shows data of fires in prison establishments by establishment over the last recorded five years.
	
		
			  Fires within prison establishments for the last five years 
			  Establishment  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total for establishment 
			 HMP Altcourse 5 5 11 6 11 38 
			 HMP Askham Grange 1  1 1  3 
			 HMP Acklington 5 4 6 2  17 
			 HMP Albany 1   1 2 4 
			 HMYOI Ashfield 22 18 7 2 5 54 
			 HMP Ashwell 9 12 6 6 2 35 
			 HMYOI Aylesbury 8 3 4 11 13 39 
			 HMP Belmarsh 8 7 9 7 1 32 
			 HMP Buckley Hall 21 8 6 15 7 57 
			 HMP Blundeston 6 7 2 3 2 20 
			 HMP Bedford 4 7 15 6 5 37 
			 HMP Blantyre House  0 
			 HMP Brockhill 15 2 4  1 22 
			 HMP Bristol 11 7 9 7 3 37 
			 HMP Birmingham 10 12 11 13 12 58 
			 HMP Bullingdon 11 7 3 2 12 35 
			 HMRC Brinsford 4 5 21 10 21 61 
			 HMP Blakenhurst 23 16 11 11 7 68 
			 HMP Bullwood Hall 8 4 5 3 2 22 
			 HMP Brixton 19 21 17 12 4 73 
			 HMP Brockhill 15 2 4 3 1 25 
			 HMP Bronzefield  6 14 29 24 73 
			 HMP Chelmsford 10 17 16 10 15 68 
			 HMP Cardiff 2 7 7 3 4 23 
			 HMP Camp Hill 5 28 21 3  57 
			 HMP Cookham Wood 11  1 1 1 14 
			 HMP Coldingley   1 1 1 3 
			 HMYOI Castington 9 12 10 12 4 47 
			 HMP Channings Wood 5 1 5 11 13 35 
			 HMP Canterbury 2 1 1 1  5 
			 HMP Dartmoor 3 1 6 2 3 15 
			 HMP Dovegate 20 17 13 6 14 70 
			 HMP Drake Hall1 1 2 
			 HMP Durham 22 24 17 15 13 91 
			 HMP Doncaster 13 9 6 3 9 40 
			 HMP Dorchester 1 2 4 2 4 13 
			 HMP Deerbolt 5 7 10 7 9 38 
			 HMYOI Dover 2 0 0 3 4 9 
			 HMP Downview 5 7 5 2 3 22 
			 HMP Erlestoke  2 1  3 6 
			 HMP Edmunds Hill 8 2 4 6 2 22 
			 HMP East Sutton Park  11 
			 HMRC Everthorpe  1 4 5 4 14 
			 HMYOI Eastwood Park 8 17 27 13 18 83 
			 HMP Exeter 7  6 6 6 25 
			 HMP Elmley 10 18 15 16 10 69 
			 HMP Forest Bank 20 23 26 26 10 105 
			 HMP Ford 7 5 3 1 1 17 
			 HMP Foston Hall 5 7 4 4 4 24 
			 HMP Frankland 3 8 2 9 15 37 
			 HMRC Feltham 23 60 45 44 42 214 
			 HMP Full Sutton 7 23 23 16 8 77 
			 HMP Featherstone 2 2 1 4 2 11 
			 HMP Garth 7 3 2 5 11 28 
			 HMP Gloucester 5 8 5 5 9 32 
			 HMYOI Guys Marsh 1 2 1 2 1 7 
			 HMP Grendon/Spring Hill 11 2 
			 HMRC Glen Parva 8 4 8 2 18 40 
			 HMP Gartree7 8 15 
			 HMYOI Huntercombe 8 8 3 6 4 29 
			 HMP Hewell Grange  11 
			 HMP Holme House 4 2 3 10 9 28 
			 HMP Hollesley Bay 1  2 2 1 6 
			 HMRC Hindley 23 5 32 38 23 121 
			 HMP Hull 8 18 9 7 13 55 
			 HMP High Down 19 18 38 32 14 121 
			 HMP Highpoint 10 7 19 9 8 53 
			 HMP Haslar 3   4  7 
			 HMP Haverigg   11 15 24 50 
			 HMP Holloway 11 9 21 10 28 79 
			 HMP Kirkham 2  2   4 
			 HMP Kingston/Portsmouth   1  1 2 
			 HMP Kennet 2 2 
			 HMYOI Kirklevington  1  2 1 4 
			 HMP Lancaster 2 13 
			 HMP Leicester 8 5 5 10 4 32 
			 HMP Leeds 8 10 9 8 5 40 
			 HMP Lancaster Farms 3 6 8 25 3 45 
			 HMP Lowdham Grange 2 2 5 8 3 20 
			 HMP Lindholme 17 10 11 4 10 52 
			 HMP Lincoln 22 14 7 19 27 89 
			 HMP Long Lartin 1 2 8 3 6 20 
			 HMRC Latchmere House  1   1 2 
			 HMRC Low Newton 14 16 10 9 9 58 
			 HMP Liverpool 11 19 10 21 16 77 
			 HMP Littlehey 4 6 2 1 2 15 
			 HMP Lewes 14 18 7 9 11 59 
			 HMP Leyhill 3 3 4 8 4 22 
			 HMP Moorland Closed 8 2 6 6 7 29 
			 HMP Moorland Open 1   1  2 
			 HMP Morton Hall  7 3 1 2 13 
			 HMP Manchester 20 14 12 16 15 77 
			 HMP Maidstone 7 3 4 4 13 31 
			 HMP The Mount 2 2 2 3 2 11 
			 HMYOI Northallerton 2  1 4 1 8 
			 HMP New Hall 20 17 2 4 3 46 
			 HMP North Sea Camp 6   4 4 14 
			 HMRC Norwich 19 16 10 11  56 
			 HMP Nottingham 13 4 4 10 10 41 
			 HMYOI Onley 7 8 11 6 8 40 
			 HMP Peterborough   34 24 26 84 
			 HMYOI Portland 5 17 11 4 15 52 
			 HMP Parkhurst 9 7 25 8 3 52 
			 HMP Preston 9 7 5 4 10 35 
			 HMP Parc  13 11 10 18 52 
			 HMP Pentonville 46 13 30 23 20 132 
			 HMRC Rochester 3 5 2 3 3 16 
			 HMP Reading 1 1 4 9 13 28 
			 HMP Rye Hill 8 16 27 34 11 96 
			 HMP Ranby 5 5 1 11 8 30 
			 HMP Risley 16 8 16 4 6 50 
			 HMP Send 3 1 1  1 6 
			 HMP Standford Hill 4 2 5  2 13 
			 HMP Stafford 4 7 3 6 4 24 
			 HMRC Stoke Heath 4 10 19 27 24 84 
			 HMP Stocken  3 4 6 3 16 
			 HMP Swaleside 27 13 19 17 22 98 
			 HMP Shepton Mallet 31 4 
			 HMYOI Swinfen Hall 1 5 1 2 1 10 
			 HMP Styal 14 18 16 27 25 100 
			 HMP Sudbury 1 1 1   3 
			 HMRC Swansea 1 6 2 1 4 14 
			 HMP Shrewsbury 3 1 4  2 10 
			 HMYOI Thorn Cross  2  4 2 8 
			 HMP Usk  1 1   2 
			 HMP The Verne 10 1 1 3 2 17 
			 HMP The Weare  1 2 (1) (1) 3 
			 HMYOI Wellingborough 9 11 10 4 8 42 
			 HMP Winchester 16 17 5 9 7 54 
			 HMP Wakefield 4 5 4 19 8 40 
			 HMP Wealstun 6 3  3 4 16 
			 HMP Woodhill 6 2 6 5 11 30 
			 HMP Warren Hill 2  1 8 2 13 
			 HMP Wayland 12 16 5 10 7 50 
			 HMP Wymott 4 6 4 1 12 27 
			 HMYOI Werrington 1   9 4 14 
			 HMRC Wolds 7 1 1 4 3 16 
			 HMP Whitemoor 13 12 11 19 15 70 
			 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 16 22 16 11 26 91 
			 HMP Whatton 6 6 
			 HMP Wandsworth 37 33 22 16 12 120 
			 HMYOI Wetherby 14 24 8 4 4 54 
			 Total in each year 1,070 1,043 1,086 1,083 1,055 5,337 
			
			 Total over the last five years  5,337 
			 (1) Closed  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Tribunals: Disabled

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to ensure that employment tribunal hearing centres have  (a) hearing aid loops and  (b) wheelchair access; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Employment Tribunal, as part of the Tribunals Service, carries out Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) audits on all its sites. Those identified as needing improvements to the facilities have these carried out on a priority basis.
	All permanent Employment Tribunal sites have hearing loops and where temporary venues are used, individual customers' needs are assessed and catered for, including the use of mobile hearing loops. Where the DDA audit establishes that work is necessary to provide access for wheelchair users in compliance with DDA legislation, reasonable adjustments are made, as far as is possible.

HEALTH

Abortion

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department provides to women from Northern Ireland who come to England to have an abortion; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not provide any form of assistance to women who travel from Northern Ireland to England seeking an abortion under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended.

Blood Transfusions: CJD

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what testing will be offered to patients with bleeding disorders exposed to the risk of infection of vCJD from transfusions; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: At present there are no suitable blood screening tests available, although there are tests under development which are currently being assessed. Advice on the suitability of candidate tests will be given by the UK Blood Service's Prion Assay Working Group and by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood Tissues and Organs. If a suitable test is identified the offer of such a test to individuals will be for agreement between the individual and their clinician.

Blood Transfusions: CJD

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients with bleeding disorders have been contacted to inform them of the level of risk of infection of vCJD they may have been exposed to from NHS transfusions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what communication strategy his Department has undertaken in order to inform patients with bleeding disorders of the risk of infection of vCJD from NHS transfusions; what the cost of that strategy is; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2004, haemophiliacs were notified that they were considered as 'at risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) for public health purposes'. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) wrote to all haemophiliac care centres asking them to notify haemophilia patients and give them the opportunity to discuss the implications.
	On the advice of the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation (UKHCDO) and the CJD Incidents Panel, it was agreed that all patients with bleeding disorders who had received plasma product clotting factors between 1980 and 2001 should be managed as 'at risk' whether or not they were known to have received specific product batches manufactured from donors who subsequently developed clinical vCJD. Haemophilia centre doctors were asked to give patients the choice of finding out whether or not they had been treated with products known to have been manufactured using plasma from donors who developed vCJD. In 2006 when further implicated batches were identified, doctors were asked to notify those patients who had received these batches.
	In February 2009, the HPA coordinated a patient notification exercise about a finding at post mortem of abnormal vCJD prion protein detected in the spleen of a patient with haemophilia. The HPA and the UKHCDO wrote to centres asking that a letter be sent to all patients informing them of this finding and emphasising that it did not change the status of patients already informed that they were 'at risk'. The doctors were asked to give patients the opportunity to discuss the finding if they wished.
	The patient notification exercises were supported by a wider communication strategy in which documentation was sent to others, including medical directors of NHS trusts, general practitioners and clinician and patient organisations, including the Haemophilia Society, and information placed on the HPA website.
	There are thought to be approximately 4,000 patients who received plasma products between 1980 and 2001, and these patients were contacted by their clinicians. However, the precise numbers of patients contacted in each exercises is not collected centrally.
	Expenditure on these notification exercises has not been separately costed.

Breast Cancer: Health Services

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Wiltshire with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks of referral in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The number and percentage of women in Wiltshire with suspected breast cancer seen by a specialist within two weeks of referral for each financial year for the three national health service trusts that cover Wiltshire are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust 
			   Number of women  As percentage seen within 14 days 
			 2003-04 803 100 
			 2004-05 842 100 
			 2005-06 947 100 
			 2006-07 816 100 
			 2007-08 820 99.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust (Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since December 2008) 
			   Number of women  As percentage seen within 14 days 
			 2003-04 873 99.7 
			 2004-05 910 98.7 
			 2005-06 861 81.7 
			 2006-07 936 100 
			 2007-08 911 100 
		
	
	
		
			  Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust 
			   Number of women  As percentage seen within 14 days 
			 2003-04 194 100 
			 2004-05 648 99.1 
			 2005-06 605 100 
			 2006-07 648 100 
			 2007-08 609 100 
			  Notes: The data in the table above are aggregate figures from the quarterly cancer waiting data.  Source: Quarterly cancer waiting data can be found on the Cancer Waiting Times Database

Charities: Finance

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the organisations which submitted an application for funding under the Third Sector Investment Programme for 2009-10 are awaiting a decision on that application; and which organisations submitted applications which were not progressed to the second stage of the programme.

Phil Hope: Out of 988 applications received under the Third Sector Investment Programme, 715 were declined at Stage 1 of the application process and 247 are awaiting a decision at Stage 2. A list of the organisations in each category has been placed in the Library.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each age cohort  (a) were diagnosed with and  (b) had their death attributed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in each of the last 10 years; and what the equivalent figures are for 2009 to date.

Dawn Primarolo: The following tables show separately the deaths from sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), familial or genetic CJD/Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, iatrogenic CJD and variant OD from 1999-2009 by 10-year age cohorts. A further table shows age at diagnosis for variant CJD in 10 year age cohorts or, for those cases who were diagnosed only after death (i.e. post mortem), age at death. For other forms of CJD, data on year of diagnosis are almost identical to year of death as mean survival are only four months.
	
		
			  Deaths from sporadic CJD in the UK: 1999-2008 and 2009 to date 
			   Age at death (yrs)  
			   10-19  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80-89  90+  Total 
			 1999  1  6 16 19 16 4  62 
			 20003 2 25 17 3  50 
			 2001 9 19 22 8  58 
			 20023 11 33 22 3  72 
			 20031 10 32 29 6 1 79 
			 20043 11 17 12 7  50 
			 2005 10 22 26 8  66 
			 20062 7 24 25 10  68 
			 20071 7 22 28 4  62 
			 2008   1  9 26 34 8  78 
			 2009 to date  22 
		
	
	
		
			  Deaths from familial or genetic CJD/GSS in the UK: 1999-2008 and 2009 to date 
			   Age at death (yrs)  
			   10-19  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80-89  90+  Total 
			 1999   1  1 2 
			 20001 1 13 
			 2001   2 1 1 1 1   6 
			 2002   1 2  25 
			 20031 2 36 
			 20041 1 2 2   6 
			 2005   1 7 2 313 
			 2006   1 2 5 19 
			 2007 3 4 1   8 
			 20081 1 35 
			 2009 to date1  1 
		
	
	
		
			  Deaths from iatrogenic CJD in the UK: 1999-2008 and 2009 to date 
			   Age at death (yrs)  
			   10-19  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80-89  90+  Total 
			 1999  2 4   6 
			 2000   1   1 
			 2001  1 2 1  4 
			 2002   
			 2003  1 3 1  5 
			 2004   1 1  2 
			 2005  1 21   4 
			 20061  1 
			 2007  1  1  2 
			 2008   1 4  5 
			 2009 to date1  1 
		
	
	
		
			  Deaths from vCJD in the UK: 1999-2008 and 2009 to date 
			   Age at death (yrs)  
			   10-19  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80-89  90+  Total 
			 1999 2 6 3 1 2  1   15 
			 2000 6 14 7  1 28 
			 2001 1 10 8 1  20 
			 2002 2 7 5 2 1 17 
			 2003 3 6 6  1 218 
			 2004 1 4 3 1  9 
			 2005 1  3  1 5 
			 2006  1 4   5 
			 2007 1 3 1   5 
			 2008  11 
			 2009 to date   
		
	
	
		
			  Diagnosis of vCJD in the UK: 1999-2008 and 2009 to date 
			   Age at diagnosis (yrs )  
			   10-19  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  60-69  70-79  80-89  90+  Total 
			 1999 3 6 4 2 2 17 
			 2000 5 13 6 1 1  1   27 
			 2001 3 12 8 2  25 
			 2002 6 5 3 1 1 16 
			 2003 3 4 6  1 216 
			 2004 1 2 4 1  8 
			 2005  2 3  1 6 
			 2006 1 1 31   6 
			 2007  11 
			 2008  11 
			 2009 to date1  1

Doctors: Qualifications

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place for periodic assessment of the  (a) qualifications and  (b) competence of doctors; and what checks are carried out to assess whether medical qualifications obtained overseas by persons seeking to practise medicine in the UK are comparable with those obtained in the UK.

Ann Keen: In the White Paper 'Trust Assurance and SafetyThe Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century' the Government endorsed the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation that there should be a system of revalidation to ensure that registered doctors remain up to date and fit to practise. Work to implement revalidation is being undertaken by the General Medical Council (GMC), the Department, devolved administrations, medical royal colleges and others under the leadership of the UK Revalidation Programme Board established by the GMC.
	The GMC carry out checks on overseas medical qualifications to ensure they are of an acceptable standard.
	The law states that an 'acceptable overseas qualification' means any qualification granted outside the United Kingdom, where that qualification is for the time being accepted by the GMC as qualifying a person to practise as a medical practitioner in the United Kingdom.

Epilepsy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will appoint a National Clinical Director for Epilepsy;
	(2)  if his Department will take steps to encourage primary care trusts to appoint epilepsy specialist nurses;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the implementation by healthcare providers of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy;

Ann Keen: From April 2009, the Care Quality Commission will take over from the Healthcare Commission and will consider, in discussion with stakeholders including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), how to take account of NICE guidance as it develops its compliance criteria.
	Local trusts are responsible for the skill mix of their workforce including the provision of specialist nurses for patients with epilepsy. They are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community and must have the freedom to deploy staff in ways appropriate for local conditions.
	There are no plans to appoint a national clinical director for epilepsy.

Epilepsy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure continuity in care for people with epilepsy in their transition from childhood to adulthood.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to ensure appropriate services are in place to meet the transition needs of people with childhood-onset conditions, such as epilepsy, moving from children's to adult services. The National Service Framework for Long-term (neurological) Conditions includes guidance for commissioners and service providers on providing these person-centred services. A copy of the framework has already been placed in the Library.

Fabry Disease

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with  (a) Fabry disease and  (b) general lysosomal storage disorders in the last 12 months; and what (i) therapy and (ii) treatment is available for such conditions in the NHS.

Ann Keen: In the calendar year 2008, there were 76 people diagnosed with Fabry disease and 186 people were diagnosed with general lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs).
	The National Commissioning Group has nationally designated and commissioned a service for LSDs since April 2005. There are seven designated centres. The service provided by these centres includes diagnosis, patient assessment and treatment including enzyme replacement therapies and substrate reduction therapies.

Hearing Aids

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hearing aids have been fitted by private sector contractors in each of the last three calendar years; and what guidance his Department provides to primary care trusts on competition for adult hearing aid service contracts.

Phil Hope: Information on the number of national health service hearing aids fitted by independent sector contractors across the English NHS is not collected centrally.
	The Department has not issued any specific guidance to primary care trusts (PCTs) on competition specifically for adult hearing aid service contracts. However, the Department published a 'PCT Procurement Guide for Health Services' in May 2008. The guide supports NHS commissioners in deciding whether and how to procure health services through formal tendering and market-testing exercises. A copy of the guide has been placed in the Library.

Heart Diseases: Health Services

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the merits of an integrated strategy for the prevention, treatment and care of  (a) heart disease,  (b) stroke,  (c) diabetes and  (d) kidney disease; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There already exist well-established national service frameworks for diabetes, kidney disease and coronary heart disease and a national stroke strategy was launched in December 2007. All four of these strategies include a focus on prevention. A vascular risk assessment and management programme is under development at present. This will target the group of modifiable risk factors shared by these four conditions. The analytical modelling and evidence base underpinning this programme indicate that there are significant health gains to be made in this area. No recent assessment has been made of the potential benefits of integrating treatment and care in respect of diagnosed cases of these conditions. However there is considerable opportunity for sharing examples in generic areas, such as support for people living with a chronic condition, across these four disease groups.

Hemel Hempstead Hospital

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps were taken by his Department to consult staff about the recent scaling down of resources at Hemel Hempstead hospital.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the local national health service to take forward, it is their responsibility to ensure that any major service changes are consulted on not only with staff but also key stakeholders and the communities that they serve.

Hospitals

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) hospital beds and  (b) hospitals required in England in (i) 2010, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2020 and (iv) 2025; what account this estimate takes of population forecasts; what estimate he has made of the additional costs of such provision; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 February 2009
	The organisation of national health services is a matter for the local NHS. Decisions are taken locally, for the benefit of patients, working with doctors and other health care professionals and involving key stakeholders such as carers, the public and other partners.

In Vitro Fertilisation: EU Countries

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the transportation of sperm from an NHS clinic to an unlicensed EU clinic; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Subsection 24(3A) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 prohibits the export of sperm from any clinic within the United Kingdom to an establishment within the European Union, unless that establishment has been accredited, designated, authorised or licensed by the competent authority in that country in compliance with Article 6 of Directive 2004/23/EC setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissue and cells intended for human application.
	The Department has not issued guidance on export. However, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which is the United Kingdom competent authority for reproductive cells, first issued guidance to licensed establishments on the import and export of reproductive cells within the European economic area in July 2007. That guidance was revised in March 2008. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library.

Infectious Diseases: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) syphilis,  (b) HIV infection and  (c) gonorrhoea have been diagnosed in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on diagnoses of syphilis, HIV and gonorrhoea in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics are only collected by strategic health authority (SHA). Data for syphilis, HIV and gonorrhoea for England and the East of England SHA since 1998 to 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Infection  Area of diagnoses  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 HIV England 2,659 2,952 3,651 4,835 5,945 6,926 7,065 7,161 6,822 7,109 
			  East of England 90 103 184 320 498 551 599 543 540 520 
			 
			 Syphilis England 131 211 322 717 1,196 1,538 2,034 2,491 2,422 2,437 
			  East of England 7 25 31 19 36 78 88 82 81 67 
			 
			 Gonorrhoea England 12,535 15,549 20,494 22,398 24,357 23,492 20,779 17,702 17,309 17,202 
			  East of England 568 722 896 1,001 1,041 1,251 1,223 947 839 820 
			  Notes:  1. HIV: Numbers will rise as further reports are received. Diagnoses are from reports received to end June 2008. Data include individuals who have an existing infection as well as those who have a newly acquired infection and therefore the data do not present incidence of infection. Areas when presented are area of diagnoses and not of residence, there is evidence that a large proportion of individuals are diagnosed outside of their PCT of residence  2. Syphilis and Gonorrhoea: The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for diagnoses made in GUM clinics only. Diagnoses made in other clinical settings, such as General Practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data. Data are unavailable for 2008. Syphilis figures include diagnoses of primary and secondary infection only.  Source: Health Protection Agency, HIV and AIDS new diagnoses and KC60 Returns

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to support  (a) men,  (b) women,  (c) children and  (d) older people with Crohn's disease.

Ann Keen: Those living with Crohn's disease are able to access a full range of health and social care options. These include treatment with steroids, 5-aminosalicylate medicines, antibiotics and immunosuppressants, as well as dietary and life-style advice.
	In 2007, the Department asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to appraise the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitors, and natalizumab, for the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Maternity Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 240W, on maternity services, which organisations have been identified as continuing to demonstrate a failure to grip recovery on maternity services; and what steps are to be taken as a consequence.

Ann Keen: All organisations identified as the poorest performers by the Healthcare Commission in its report of July 2008, have plans in place to improve and their strategic health authorities are monitoring the implementation of these plans.

Measles: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of measles in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire.

Dawn Primarolo: The way to reduce the number of confirmed cases of measles recorded each year is to increase the number of children vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
	In addition to the routine MMR vaccination programme, on 6 August 2008 the Department launched a national MMR vaccine catch-up campaign. The aim of the campaign is to immunise all children between one and 18 years of age who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated with MMR vaccine.
	To support the campaign the Department has provided extra funding to primary care trusts (PCTs) with PCTs outside London having their funding limits increased by 30,000 and London PCTs' funding limits increased by 60,000. The Department has also sourced additional supplies of vaccine, provided technical support to general practitioners to help them identify children who have not received the MMR vaccine and provided additional online reports to PCTs to help them monitor the effectiveness of their catch-up programmes. The Department has also sent all general practitioner surgeries new measles leaflets and posters.
	The Department has held meetings with both strategic health authorities and PCT immunisation co-ordinators, regional directors of public health and directors of performance to emphasise the importance of reducing measles cases through improving vaccination uptake.
	A public relations campaign will be rolled out from March 2009. Key messages will include how serious and infectious measles is and how it is never too late to have the MMR vaccine.
	Hemel Hempstead is covered by West Hertfordshire PCT. West Hertfordshire PCT and East and North Hertfordshire PCT are implementing the national MMR vaccine catch-up campaign.

MMR Vaccine

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total number of children in each region who had not received the MMR vaccine in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Tables of the percentage of children immunised with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at two and five years of age in each strategic health authority are published in the annual statistical bulletin 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England'. Copies of the reports titled; 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 1998-99', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 1999-2000', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2000-01' and 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2001-02' have been placed in the Library. Copies of the reports titled; 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England, 2002-03', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England, 2003-04', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England, 2004-05', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England, 2005-06', 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England, 2006-07' and 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2007-08' have already been placed in the Library.

Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the clinical effects of low doses of naltrexone for patients with multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department has made no assessment of the clinical effectiveness of low dose naltrexone for those living with multiple sclerosis.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will outline his Department's policy on the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes;
	(2)  whether the British Committee on Standards in Haematology guidelines on myelodysplastic syndromes will be updated to take into account advances in research and treatment since the last published guidelines in 2003;
	(3)  what consideration his Department has given to the variations in levels of access to supportive treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Ann Keen: The 2003 Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out recommendations abut the care and treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with the emphasis on symptom control and supportive treatment.
	It is for the national health service locally to implement this guidance. Good progress has been made and the National Cancer Action Team continue to work with the NHS at a local level to ensure full implementation.
	NICE is also appraising the drug azacitidine for the treatment of MDS and expects to publish guidance towards the end of this year.
	The British Committee on Standards in Haematology (BCSH) is an independent organisation. Contact details for queries about guidance issued by the BCSH can be found at:
	www.bcshguidelines.com.

Patient Choice Schemes: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efficiencies have been achieved through the centralisation of appointment booking systems between hospitals in West Hertfordshire NHS Hospital Trust.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally.

Pharmacy: Competition

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that competition and choice are taken into consideration by primary care trusts when considering new pharmacy applications; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department keeps the operation of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 under regular review. These regulations were substantially revised from April 2005 and introduced, among other measures, a new criterion of 'reasonable choice' to the regulatory test known as control of entry in order to improve choice with regard to the services and to the providers of such services that are available to patients and consumers and to promote more competition. The Department is considering carefully a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal on this matter and what further steps, if any, may be appropriate to ensure this aim is achieved.

Royal Free Hospital: Medical Records

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) estimate he has made of the cost and  (b) assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the computerised record system at the Royal Free Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: The strategic Cerner Millennium system at the Royal Free Hospital went live on 15 June 2008. It has been widely reported that, following a successful go-live, initial operation did not go as smoothly as everyone involved would have wished, and that the problems experienced affected trust performance. The local service provider, BT, and the system supplier, Cerner UK, with the close involvement of the London Programme for IT, addressed the problems as a matter of urgency, and service enhancements have been implemented incrementally since October 2008.
	The trust has reported that the system became stable in its operation following changes made in November and December 2008. A small amount of additional functionality was added in mid-January and, by the end of January 2009, the trust confirmed that the system was fit to be deployed at other acute hospitals in London.
	Lessons have been learned from the deployment at the Royal Free Hospital, which now has an effective patient record system. These lessons will help to improve future deployments.
	The cost of deploying the computerised record system at the Royal Free Hospital, as at other trusts, has three components. A one-off deployment charge is paid when the trust has accepted the system. An ongoing monthly service charge is then made for the live service, and there will be local costs associated with preparation, deployment and support. The agreed deployment charge for full deployment of all bundles of service at the Royal Free Hospital is 4.676 millions at 2003-04 prices, and the monthly service charge 33,644 per month. Information is not held centrally about the local costs, which will vary from trust to trust.

Social Care Inspection: Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the Commission for Social Care Inspection is in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: We are informed by the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection that the estimated cost in empty property business rates for 2008-09 is 536,154.05.

Transplant Surgery: Waiting Lists

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died while on the transplant waiting list in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the number of people who died while on the transplant waiting list in England in each calendar year, 2000-08:
	
		
			  Organ listed  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			 Kidney 229 201 205 249 236 236 239 253 195 
			 Pancreas 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 2 
			 Kidney/pancreas 11 6 7 5 9 14 9 10 15 
			 Heart 42 33 18 15 22 24 29 36 19 
			 Lung(s) 52 64 58 68 54 71 62 72 50 
			 Heart/lung 38 32 28 20 17 9 9 8 3 
			 Liver 65 61 64 74 67 99 101 112 93 
			 Total 437 397 380 433 406 455 450 492 377 
			 (1) Figures for 2008 are likely to be under-reported due to late notification

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps were taken by his Department to consult staff on changes to the administrative system operated by West Hertfordshire NHS Hospital Trust.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the local national health service to take forward, it is their responsibility to consult staff about proposed service changes.

West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust on the production of literature relating to the restructuring of local NHS services in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the local national health service.

Wheelchairs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wheelchair services are meeting the 18 week pathway for provision of their services; and what funding his Department has provided to primary care trusts to deliver such services in the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: Funding for all national health service wheelchair services comes out of general allocation funding to primary care trusts (PCTs). This funding is not ring-fenced and it is for each PCT to assess local need and allocate funds accordingly.
	Wheelchairs are classified as medical devices and are covered by the 18 weeks referral to treatment commitment where the need for the specialised wheelchair is identified as the first definitive treatment on an 18 weeks referral to treatment consultant-led pathway.
	The Department does not collect data separately on the provision of wheelchair services on 18 weeks referral to treatment pathways.
	NHS spend on wheelchair services in 2006-07, which is the latest year figures are available for, was 125.8 million.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Elderly People

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the percentage of households where one or more persons is over 80 years in  (a) Eastbourne constituency,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England in 2008-09.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Recent estimates for Eastbourne constituency and East Sussex are not available.
	For England, the most recent estimate is that 8 per cent. of all households have at least one member aged 80 or over. This is based on an average of the latest three years of the Survey of English Housing (2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08).

TREASURY

Bank Services: Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 17 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1577W, on local government: banking services, when  (a) his Department and  (b) the Financial Services Authority was first informed of the financial vulnerability of Icelandic banking institutions.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 11 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1083W.

Bank Services: Regulation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Financial Services Authority added each Icelandic bank to the list of authorised deposit-takers for local authorities.

Ian Pearson: The FSA is responsible for authorisation of UK deposit-taking institutions under part IV of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA). Deposit-taking institutions incorporated in other EEA states are authorised by their home state regulator and can establish branches in the UK using 'passport' rights under EC law. The FSA does not produce a list of authorised deposit-taking institutions specifically for the guidance of local authorities.

Banks: Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the availability of credit to customers of the credit scoring methodologies of those banks in which the Government holds shares;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on availability of mortgages of the affordability calculations used to determine eligibility for a mortgage made by those lenders in which the Government has a significant shareholding.

Ian Pearson: Where there is public sector investment in financial institutions these stakes are to be managed on a commercial basis by an arm's length company, UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI). UKFI's objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder with due regard to the maintenance of financial stability and to act in a way that promotes competition. Decisions concerning risk assessment of individual borrowers remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies.

Child Benefit

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to ensure that all relevant staff of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are aware of the new targets relating to time taken to process claims for child benefit; and when he expects the first measures of HMRC performance against these targets to be published.

Stephen Timms: HMRC's target to pay 69 per cent. of new child benefit claims in nine working days and all new claims in an average of 20 calendar days was introduced from April 2008.
	HMRC made staff aware of the new target at the time it was introduced through a series of management communications and presentations. Individual contributions towards the claims target are also a feature of the annual performance agreements of relevant staff.
	Outturn for 2008-09 will be available later in the year.

Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) donations and  (b) bequests were made to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt in each month since January 2006; and what the monetary value of each was.

Ian Pearson: The following table lists, on a month-by-month basis, the totals of cash and gilts that have been surrendered to the Donations and Bequests account, administered by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, from January 2006 to date. It does not include any donations of cash, gilts or other property that may still be being administered or processed by the Treasury Solicitor.
	
		
			   Number of transactions  Month value total ()  Month value bonds ()  Month value cash () 
			 January 2006 3 103.14 103.14  
			 February 2006 3 33.16 33.16  
			 March 2006 2 21,562.04 26.69 21,535.35 
			 April 2006 2 57.81 57.81  
			 May 2006 1 26.17 26.17  
			 June 2006 3 130.60 130.60  
			 July 2006 0
			 August 2006 0
			 September 2006 5 34.11 34.11  
			 October 2006 0
			 November 2006 0
			 December 2006 0
			 January 2007 0
			 February 2007 0
			 March 2007 2 12,729.53 8.65 12,720.88 
			 April 2007 0
			 May 2007 2 122.34 122.34  
			 June 2007 1 0.45 0.45  
			 July 2007 1 309,253.49  309,253.49 
			 August 2007 0
			 September 2007 0
			 October 2007 0
			 November 2007 0
			 December 2007 1 555,001.99  555,001.99 
			 January 2008 0
			 February 2008 1 4.18 4.18  
			 March 2008 0
			 April 2008 1 8.14 8.14  
			 May 2008 0
			 June 2008 0
			 July 2008 2 474.96 474.96  
			 August 2008 0
			 September 2008 0
			 October 2008 0
			 November 2008 0
			 December 2008 0
			 January 2009 1 0.95 0.95  
			 February 2009 2 7,300.80 7,300.80

Construction Industry Scheme

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses formerly registered for gross payment under the Construction Industry Scheme have ceased to hold that status in each year since the scheme's inception.

Angela Eagle: There has been a special compliance scheme for the construction industry since 1972. Information over that period could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the period of the current scheme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 777W to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope).

Council Tax: Parking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2498W, on council tax: parking, how many domestic dwellings in England have been assigned the dwellinghouse coding for parking of  (a) G1,  (b) G2,  (c) G3,  (d) G4,  (e) G5,  (f) G6,  (g) G7,  (h) G8 and  (i) G9 according to records held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: As at 1 February 2009 the relevant numbers were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 G1 6,867,200 
			 G2 1,095,864 
			 G3 34,945 
			 G4 8,982 
			 G5 1,195 
			 G6 753 
			 G7 153 
			 G8 150 
			 G9 271 
		
	
	A comprehensive exercise to capture information about parking for all domestic properties has not been undertaken, nor is one planned.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 329W, on council tax: valuation, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the two manuals.

Stephen Timms: No. These guidance manuals are technical instructions on the use of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) internal IT applications. It is not appropriate to publish information which might assist unauthorised access to VOA systems or databases.

Debt Collection: Powers of Entry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many times bailiffs hired by HM Revenue and Customs used their powers of forced entry in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  in how many cases HM Revenue and Customs has commissioned bailiffs to recover tax arrears in the last year for which figures are available; and what HM Revenue and Customs' gross expenditure on bailiffs was in that period.

Stephen Timms: HMRC does not currently commission bailiffs to recover tax arrears and has no plans to do so.
	HMRC has a statutory power of distraint which is exercised directly by HMRC Officers.

Departmental Catering

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) directly-operated and  (b) franchised catering outlets his Department and its agencies provide for staff.

Angela Eagle: Catering facilities in 1 Horse Guards Road are provided as part of the PFI contract for servicing the building. These facilities are used by both staff and visitors to the building.

Departmental Correspondence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters received by his Department were not replied to within four weeks in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not held.

Departmental Data Protection

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy for his Department to sign the Information Commissioner's Personal Information Promise.

Angela Eagle: The Government welcomed the Promise as a commendable initiative to raise awareness of the importance of effective data protection safeguards, particularly for those organisations with no similar commitments already in place.
	The Government take data protection very seriously. Following the Cabinet Office Review of Data Handling Procedures in Government, Departments have implemented a raft of measures to improve data security.
	The Ministry of Justice is considering actively with the ICO how the Promise might add additional value to those measures we have already signed up to. These include the Information Charters, the recommendations of the Data Handling Review and the Thomas/Walport Review and, of course, our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and other legislation and regulations.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has no wireless networks

Departmental Databases

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of maintaining the databases owned and managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies was in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Angela Eagle: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Consultation

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public consultations his Department has conducted in the last 12 months; how long each consultation was open for; how many responses were received in each case; and what the cost of conducting each consultation was.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1392W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban).

Departmental Temporary Employment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which companies his Department sourced temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Angela Eagle: Details of companies' sourced for temporary staff and the amounts paid to each company are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   
			  Company  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Badenoch and Clark 76,390 40,961 34,989 71,571 105,722 
			 Brook Street (UK) Ltd. 79,195 184,224 127,856 120,980 27,272 
			 Campion Willcocks and Associates Ltd.   192,232 68,103  
			 Hudson Global Resources Ltd. 102,763 66,723 179,778 280,338 198,437 
			 Huntress Search Ltd. 133,424 148,132 77,213 66,617 67,740 
			 Josephine Sammons Ltd. 19,489  11,994 29,226 32,128 
			 Kelly Services 170,930 
			 MacDonald and Company   12,813   
			 Method Consulting Ltd.   125,392 193,848 11,844 
			 Michael Page Ltd. 84,931 86,954 114,131 301,717 185,760 
			 Office Angels 165,234 69,792 38,729 37,859 4,833

Departmental Written Questions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of parliamentary Questions to his Department received a response referring the hon. Member to a website in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2006.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	It has been the practice of successive Administrations to refer Members to publications and other source documents from which information they are seeking can be extracted.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether each Government department is required to appoint a designated Euro Minister as part of the Euro Changeover preparations.

Ian Pearson: The requirement on Departments to have a designated Euro Minister remains unchanged.

Financial Inclusion

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many financial inclusion strategies his Department has had since May 1997; what the  (a) title and  (b) date of each was; and what recommendations each made to increase levels of financial inclusion in areas of high financial exclusion.

Ian Pearson: HM Treasury has published three documents setting out the Government's policy and commitments on financial inclusion. The first was 'Promoting financial inclusion', in December 2004. In March 2007 HM Treasury published 'Financial inclusion: the way forward'. The most recent document was 'Financial inclusion: an action plan for 2008-11', published in December 2007. All these documents can be found on HM Treasury's financial inclusion pages at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_inclusion_index.htm

Foreign Exchange

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of recent changes in the value of sterling on the cost of the United Kingdom's contributions in euros to the European Union.

Ian Pearson: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 December 2008,  Official Report, column 430W to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois).

Housing: Sales

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of houses sold in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009 to date.

Angela Eagle: Based on data from HM Revenue and Customs, there were 1.63 million transactions of houses valued at 40,000 or more in 2007, and 927,000 in 2008. In January 2009 there were 56,000 transactions under the same definition, (seasonally adjusted).

Council Tax: Valuations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether  (a) localities and  (b) locality groups are used by the Valuation Office Agency to assist with council tax valuations in England.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency's (VOA's) council tax banding support tool makes use of localities and locality groups to help identify properties that are most closely comparable to a given subject property. These outputs are available to assist the VOA's caseworkers in making council tax banding judgements.

Inheritance Tax: Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households claimed inheritance tax loss on sale relief in the last 12 months; and what the thresholds and criteria are for claiming the relief.

Stephen Timms: Those liable for inheritance tax on the value of (a) qualifying investments (broadly quoted shares) and (b) land or buildings, which were part of the deceased's estate, and who sell the assets for a lower value than that originally returned, may claim, subject to certain conditions, that the sale price is the value to be adopted for inheritance tax purposes. The sales must take place within 12 months of the death for qualifying investments, and within four years of death for land and buildings. More details are available on HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cto/forms/iht35.pdf
	and
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cto/forms/iht38.pdf.
	An estimated 1,700 estates made claims for loss on sale relief in respect of qualifying investments in year 2007-08, with a further 3,300 estates making claims between April 2008 and November 2008.
	An estimated 3,000 estates made claims for loss on sale relief in respect of land and buildings in year 2007-08, with a further 3,000 estates making claims between April 2008 and November 2008.

Insurance: Construction

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the construction industry and its associated industries on reductions in credit insurance cover.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Interest Rates

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monthly interest rate was for the period  (a) six months before and  (b) immediately following the first quarter of negative growth in the recession of 1992; and what it was in the six months (i) before and (ii) after July 2008.

Ian Pearson: A comprehensive set of historical interest rate data is available online from the Bank of England's website at:
	www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/index.htm.

Local Government Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward financial measures to assist local authorities in delivering their capital programmes in circumstances where anticipated finance from capital receipts is reduced owing to falls in property and asset values.

Angela Eagle: Local authorities are responsible for determining their own capital spending plans and associated financing. The introduction of the prudential borrowing regime and the ending of 'set aside' of capital receipts from 1 April 2004 has given local authorities greater flexibility and discretion to manage the financing of these plans. This, alongside bringing forward to 2009-10 capital investment from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), in respect of the fiscal stimulus, will ensure that local authorities are well placed to maintain capital expenditure plans during the economic downturn.

Local Government Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with  (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and  (b) local government representatives measures to relax (i) capital financing and (ii) tendering rules for local government expenditure as measures to support the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury meets regularly with the Department for Communities and Local Government and representatives from local government to discuss a range of issues, including the impact of the economic downturn on localities.

Mass Media

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of his Department's contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: For information on the last three years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1981W, to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt).
	Prior year information is not readily available and could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he and his officials have had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the effect of the national non-domestic rate (NNDR) on the viability of small and medium-sized enterprises; what representations he has received on the  (a) level and  (b) future levels of NNDR; what recent estimate he made of the (i) cost to the Exchequer of and (ii) number of additional properties which would benefit from (A) not implementing the 2009-10 increase in NNDR and (B) extending the small business rate relief scheme to (1) properties under 20,000 rateable value outside London and (2) properties under 30,000 rateable value outside London and simultaneously amending the small business multiplier to (x) 40 pence, (y) 42 pence and (z) 44 pence; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials work closely with CLG and other relevant governmental Departments on national non-domestic rates (NNDR).
	Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such representations.
	Freezing NNDR for all commercial properties for 2009-10 would cost the Exchequer almost 1 billion in business rates foregone.
	No estimates have been made of the impact of amending small business rate relief (SBRR) or the small business multiplier to the levels set out in the question. The cost of such changes would be borne by other ratepayers.

Ocean View Properties

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Financial Services Authority has made of the number of individuals who may have lost money in the Ocean View Properties International Ltd. property case; and what steps are being taken to assist those individuals.

Stephen Timms: Ocean View Properties International Ltd. was not regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) because it did not carry on any FSA regulated business. It has therefore never been the direct subject of inquiry by the FSA.
	There are firms connected with Ocean View Properties that were at one time authorized by the FSA. The FSA has cancelled their authorisations and is carrying on an investigation into those firms. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
	I express my sympathy to anyone who has lost money in this case, and would urge them to contact their local police force, to pass on any relevant information or evidence, if they have not already done so.

Parliamentary Questions

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumed hourly cost to departments of the work required from civil servants in preparing answers to questions is used to calculate whether a parliamentary Question would incur a disproportionate cost; and what changes to the assumed cost for the preparation of an answer there have been since 1997.

Angela Eagle: When applying the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) Departments calculate cost using the actual marginal cost of staff time required to provide an answer.
	Marginal cost is the direct cost of civil servants' time and excludes the fixed costs of the Department. A Department can choose to apply the DCT where this marginal cost is calculated as exceeding the threshold, currently set at 750.

Public Sector: Hospitality

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who holds records on the use of the Expotel hotel booking service for the public sector, as appointed to the OGCbuying.solutions framework; and which public sector bodies use this service.

Angela Eagle: OGCbuying.solutions hold details of usage of the framework by all customer Departments at summary level. Typical data held is non-personal information such as how many trips and the cost of trips within a given period.
	Individual public sector Departments hold data on their use of the contract in more detail to enable them to manage spend in this area as well as comply with health and safety requirements and environmental considerations. Data held at a public sector departmental level is typically who has travelled, the method of travel and where an individual is staying.

Public Works Loan Board

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average interest rate paid by local authorities for loans for capital schemes from the Public Works Loans Board is.

Angela Eagle: At 31 March 2008, the average rate on all loans, fixed and variable, was 5.722 per cent.

Regional Economic Council

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the regional economic council has met; and where each meeting was held.

Angela Eagle: The regional economic council has met twice. The first meeting was held 5 November 2009 in London. The second meeting, on 5 January 2009, was also held in London.
	The third meeting will be held on 2 March 2009 and will be held in Reading.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage level of staff turnover was for  (a) HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff and  (b) HMRC staff working in contact centres in the last year for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: For the year ended 31 December 2008 the percentage level of staff turnover, based on the number of people who left the department, was for  (a) HM Revenue and Customs 8.77 per cent. and  (b) HMRC contact centres 15.76 per cent.

Revenue and Customs: Standards

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many tax credit  (a) claims and  (b) claimants were affected by technical difficulties at HM Revenue and Customs in 2005-06; what measures have been put in place to resolve such difficulties; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many tax credit claims have been  (a) affected by and  (b) delayed as a result of (i) IT problems and (ii) other technical difficulties at HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many tax credit claims were unpaid for  (a) over one year,  (b) over two years,  (c) over three years,  (d) over four years and  (e) five years or more as a result of (i) IT problems and (ii) other technical difficulties at HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) works continuously with its IT provider to identify and resolve tax credits claims affected by technical difficulties.
	Where there are IT problems or other technical difficulties, HMRC maintains affected tax credits claims by sending manual cash cheque payments to its customers.

Revenue and Customs: Standards

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what average length of time HM Revenue and Customs took to  (a) process and  (b) award a tax credit claim in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what procedures HM Revenue and Customs has in place to ensure the  (a) accurate,  (b) swift and  (c) efficient payment of tax credits.

Stephen Timms: For information about processing times I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 535W.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publish procedural guidance for staff handling tax credits claims on the department's website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ntcmanual/index.htm
	More generally, Section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 requires the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine the accounts of HMRC to ascertain that adequate regulations and procedure have been framed to secure an effective check on the assessment, collection and proper allocation of revenue and that they are being duly carried out, and to report the results to the House of Commons. His reports are published on the National Audit Office website at:
	www.nao.org.uk/publications.aspx

Revenue and Customs: Working Hours

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff working at HM Revenue and Customs contact centres have  (a) requested and  (b) been granted flexible working hours.

Stephen Timms: To ensure that HM Revenue and Customs provides an appropriate service to its customers during its contact centre opening hours of 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, the Department's contact centres utilise over 50 different shift patterns. These provide a wide range of different working patterns for staff. The number of contact centres staff who have requested or been granted flexible working hours under the Work and Families Act 2006 is not available.

Sick Leave: Revenue and Customs

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average number of days lost to sickness in the latest year for which figures are available for  (a) all HM Revenue and Customs staff and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs staff working in contact centres.

Stephen Timms: In the year to 31 December 2008, the average number of working days lost to sickness for the equivalent of each full-time member of staff, was for  (a) HM Revenue and Customs 10.37 and for  (b) HM Revenue and Customs Contact Centres 17.45.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the reasons for the level of take-up of stamp duty land tax relief for zero-carbon homes.

Ian Pearson: The Government have set a deliberately stretching target that all new homes must be zero carbon by 2016. The stamp duty land tax relief (SDLT) for zero carbon homes was introduced to help kick-start the market for new highly efficient technologies in homes, both for the fabric of the building and in the use of micro-generation, and sets a gold standard for green homes. The Government have committed to conducting an interim review by 2010 of the effectiveness of the relief in stimulating the production of zero carbon homes.

Taxation: Domicile

Colin Burgon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days in each tax year individuals with taxable income from UK interests are required to spend outside the UK to qualify for non-resident status; when this figure was last reviewed; what plans he has to review it; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: An individual's residence status for tax purposes is not a matter of simply counting days in the UK. Individuals who can demonstrate that they have left the UK permanently or indefinitely, for example because they either work full-time abroad for at least a complete tax year or have left the UK for at least three years, will be treated as not resident and not ordinarily resident for income tax purposes from the day after the date of their departure. Once non-resident, individuals can then normally spend up to 182 days in the UK in any tax year and up to 90 days in a tax year on average, taken over a maximum of four tax years and still continue to be treated as not resident.
	Individuals who normally live in the UK or who cannot prove that they have left the UK and are absent for shorter periods will continue to be resident in the UK, even if they spend less than 183 days in the UK in any tax year or less than 91 days on average.
	Since summer 2008, officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have been consulting with a group of key external stakeholders (representing a wide variety of interests including low income groups) to explore the feasibility of putting the test for tax residence on a statutory basis.

Taxation: Foreigners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of revenue foregone by the Exchequer in exempting from capital gains tax income from sales of UK property by foreign nationals not domiciled in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Taxation: Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been received by the Exchequer from property-related taxes in the last  (a) 12 and  (b) 24 months.

Stephen Timms: Revenue from taxes targeted at the transfer or use of land or buildings is provided in this reply. These are stamp duty land tax and business rates.
	In 2007 the amount of stamp duty land tax collected was 10.4 billion and in 2008 the amount collected was 6.0 billion.
	Published figures for business rates collected in Great Britain are available for financial years and were given for 2007-08 and 2008-09 in table B13 of the PBR report. Figures for the two constituent six-month periods of 2008-09 were also given in table B12.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 829W, on the Valuation Office: Northern Ireland and Property Services, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each of the eight meetings.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 964W.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 348W, on the Valuation Office, what each of the Valuation Office Agency's  (a) regular management meetings and  (b) project boards is.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency:
	 (a) Does not keep a central record of regular management meetings throughout its organisation. To assemble detailed information would involve disproportionate cost.
	 (b) Has project boards overseeing the following main activities:
	Accommodation rationalisation
	Centralisation of routine processing and administrative activities
	Electronic capture of hard copy records
	Installation of a geographical information system
	Update of the information technology platforms (technical refresh)
	Wireless-enabled technology
	Asset valuation software
	Non-domestic rating revaluation 2010
	Merger between the VOA and The Rent Service

Valuation Office: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what databases are  (a) owned and  (b) maintained by or on behalf of the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency owns and maintains a wide variety of databases to support its work.

Valuation Office: Procurement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 829W, on the Valuation Office: procurement, what the financial threshold is above which a purchase order is required for representatives of the Valuation Office Agency to procure goods and services.

Stephen Timms: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) operates a policy that requires purchase orders to be raised in nearly all cases. Exceptions to this are for local, one-off purchases or where the procurement is sourced through a specific dedicated portal.

Valuation Office: Rightmove

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of the contract between HM Revenue and Customs on behalf of the Valuation Office Agency and Rightmove.co.uk plc.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 22 February 2008,  Official Report, column 118W. Expenditure in the year 2008-09 will be available in the Valuation Office Agency's annual report and accounts, when published.

VAT

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether value added tax (VAT) is charged on VAT-liable items in HM Treasury building  (a) vending machines and  (b) staff canteens; and whether retail prices on such VAT-liable items have been reduced since December 2008.

Angela Eagle: The value added tax element in retail prices in HM Treasury building vending machines and the staff canteen was reduced to 15 per cent. with effect from 1 December 2008.

Working Tax Credit

John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of shortened working hours as a result of the recession on claimants of working tax credits.

Stephen Timms: Tax credits are a flexible, responsive system of financial support that adjusts to people's circumstances. Shortened working hours that have the effect of reducing a household's income may lead to a higher tax credits award, provided that the household continues to meet the normal eligibility conditions for tax credits.
	In December 2008, 412,000 households were benefiting from an increased tax credits award because of a fall in income compared to their previous year's income. To receive any additional support, households need only notify HMRC of their changed circumstances.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account UK forces in Afghanistan have taken of the concerns about Afghan civilian casualties expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations; and what steps are being taken to minimise such casualties.

Bill Rammell: We share the Secretary-General's concerns about civilian casualties, the vast majority of which are caused by the insurgency. We do everything we can to avoid civilian casualties but, despite our efforts to specifically target the insurgents, there are times when the ordinary people of Afghanistan are harmed by the conflict.
	We are deeply saddened by any civilian deaths in Afghanistan. We particularly regret incidents where civilians are killed as a result of actions by international forces.
	We continue to take incidents of civilian casualties very seriously. They present a real risk to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and international forces' presence and support in Afghanistan. ISAF has made strenuous efforts to reduce incidents. The UK welcomes the recent Tactical directive from the commander of ISAF which further tightens the rules of engagement in Afghanistan to cut civilian casualties. The new rules stress the need for proportionate use of force and for Afghan forces to take the lead in searching Afghan homes and religious sites unless a clear danger is identified.

Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of staff within his Department deal with animal-related matters as part of their overall remit.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held centrally, and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Arms Trade: Treaties

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to include the Arms Trade treaty process on the agenda for the forthcoming G20 summit in London.

Bill Rammell: The agenda for the London summit meeting is still under consideration with participants. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will continue to raise the Arms Trade treaty at appropriate opportunities in international meetings.

Asia: Diplomatic Service

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) remit and  (b) responsibilities of his Department's Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan are.

David Miliband: The Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan will focus on the cross-cutting issues facing both the UK and Afghan governments, such as countering extremism. His remit will include working with other key Government Departments engaged on Afghanistan and Pakistan, working closely with his US counterpart, ambassador Richard Holbrooke in developing international consensus and support for the Afghan and Pakistani governments, in conjunction with our ambassador in Kabul and high commissioner in Islamabad. The Special Representative will report to the Foreign Secretary.

Caribbean: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle drug trafficking in the British Overseas Territories of  (a) Anguilla,  (b) Montserrat and  (c) the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Gillian Merron: Through the Governors of the respective Territories we work closely with the local police forces to help them develop and implement strategies to counter drug trafficking. Where appropriate we have provided financial support for these strategies, for example by providing co-funding for three retired UK police officers to establish the Drugs and Crime Task Force in Anguilla. We also support initiatives for cross territory and wider regional collaboration.

Caribbean: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to minimise the potential for money laundering to occur in the British Overseas Territories of  (a) Anguilla,  (b) Montserrat and  (c) the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Gillian Merron: My officials are working with regulators, police investigators and prosecutors in the Overseas Territories (OT) and have drawn up action plans tailored to each of the OT, which include projects to strengthen regulatory systems, laws and expertise. They also take into account independent evaluations of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing systems by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
	Departmental funding has been used to strengthen the Financial Crime Unit in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and to update the proceeds of crime law. Similar projects are underway in Anguilla and Montserrat. In addition, the Department is part-funding the new head of the Anguilla Financial Intelligence Unit, which has brought about increases in the reporting and investigation of suspected financial crimes. Training for financial investigators from Anguilla and Montserrat has been arranged and external consultants are helping to boost supervisory practice in these Territories. We are also working with the authorities in TCI to help them to respond to the recommendations in the November 2008 CFATF mutual evaluation report. We are working with Anguilla and Montserrat to help them prepare for their CFATF evaluations later this year.

Central African Republic: Overseas Aid

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department plans to offer to the new government of national unity in the Central African Republic.

Gillian Merron: The UK welcomed the formation of a unity government in the Central African Republic (CAR) on 19 January 2009, following the outcome of the Inclusive Political Dialogue.
	The UN Peace Building Commission will now assist national authorities in driving forward core peace building priorities, and ensuring that international attention remains focused. Linked to this, the Peace Building Fundto which the UK is the largest contributor with 30 million over three yearsis providing funding for projects in the areas of security sector reform, (including disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration), rule of law and good governance.
	Alongside multinational efforts to support the new government and increase development in CAR, the UK is providing more than 2.2 million to support humanitarian activities in 2008-09. This money is being spent on bringing clean water, sanitation facilities, food, farming equipment and basic medicines and health care to those most in need, as well as providing protection to civilians affected by armed conflict.

Colonies: UN Resolutions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to monitor the implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution 63/110 on Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

Gillian Merron: This is a twofold process: The UK carefully examines the UN Secretariat's reports to the General Assembly's Fourth Committee. The UK also continues to fulfil its obligations to the Overseas Territories under the UN Charter.
	The UK's relationship with its Overseas Territories is a modern one based on partnership. The UK is committed to the future development and continued security of the Overseas Territories for as long as the Territories choose to retain their link to the UK. The UK has no intention of imposing independence against the will of the peoples concerned, whilst the established policy of successive Governments has been to give every help and encouragement to those Territories which wished to proceed to independence, where it is an option.

Conflict Resolution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms has received as part of his dialogue with  (a) the United Nations,  (b) the EU,  (c) the African Union and  (d) others, broken down by type of representations; and on which dates each such representation was received.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 February 2009
	The right hon. Jack McConnell MSP, the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms is based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He met officials from the European Council, European Commission and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on 9-10 December 2008 in Brussels and from the United Nations on 15-16 December 2008 in New York. Mr. McConnell also met EU officials on 2-3 February 2009 in Bosnia. He plans to meet officials from the African Union shortly.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Asylum

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Kinshasa and Bas Congo; what guidance he has issued to the UK Border Agency on the safety of unsuccessful asylum seekers removed to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We continue to monitor the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) closely. Though there have been recent occasions on which human rights standards have not been upheld in Kinshasa and Bas Congo, we are not aware of any systematic persecution by the DRC authorities there. Our guidance to the UK Border Agency on the return of failed asylum seekers to DRC from the UK sets this out. There continues to be no general reason why failed asylum seekers should not be returned to Kinshasa or Bas Congo, although each application must be treated on its own merits.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Gillian Merron: I will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each qualifying property occupied by the Foreign and Commonwealth office and its agencies.

Departmental Buildings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 371W, on departmental buildings; at what rate council tax is being paid in respect of the residential apartments in the composite hereditament of 1 Carlton Gardens.

Gillian Merron: Council tax is currently being paid at the City of Westminster's company property rate of 90 per cent., the rate chargeable for an empty furnished property. The charge for the financial year 2008-09 is 1,237.72.

Departmental Buildings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 371W, on departmental buildings, whether his Department is seeking to  (a) extend the lease or  (b) terminate the lease in its negotiations with the Crown Estate.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is conducting negotiations with a view to extending the lease.

Departmental Internet

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a copy of his Department's website accessibility plan.

Caroline Flint: No, as there is not a departmental accessibility plan. However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices's accessibility statement is available at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/accessibility.
	Our accessibility plan is to address the priority issues raised in the accessibility report produced for our website by Bunnyfoot in March 2008. This report is an internal document and as such has not been published on our public website.

Departmental Pay

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the maximum monthly allowance in addition to basic salary is for civilian employees of his Department working in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Gillian Merron: UK civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Iraq and Afghanistan receive a series of allowances.
	Some of these allowances, principally cost of living allowance, are paid to civil servants serving in many countries overseas to compensate them for the actual extra costs of living and working overseas. These costs are based on indicators produced by Employment Conditions Abroad (ECA).
	Other allowances, particularly the hardship element of Diplomatic Service Compensation Allowance (DSCA), are paid to staff in difficult and dangerous posts to compensate them for the security threat they face, the lack of basic facilities, risks to health, and frequently lengthy separation from their families. ECA indicators, and security advice, are used to calculate this allowance.
	The current monthly rates of DSCA hardship allowance paid to staff at posts in Iraq and Afghanistan are:
	
		
			
			 Kabul 1,510 
			 Kandahar 1,569 
			 Lashkar Gah 1,746 
			 Irbil 1,635 
			 Baghdad 2,306 
			 Basra 2,306

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The following table records the number of civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whose periods of sick leave continued beyond 30, 50 and 100 days.
	
		
			   30 days  50 days  100 days 
			 2004 174 104 38 
			 2005 130 75 33 
			 2006 138 75 35 
			 2007 152 99 42 
			 2008 141 60 26

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days sick leave on average each member of staff in his Department took in 2008.

Gillian Merron: The average number of sick days taken by UK-based Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff during 2008 was 3.6 days. We do not keep records centrally of sick leave taken by locally-engaged staff members. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The following statistics record the number of Officers who were on sick leave for more than 12 months since 2004.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 8 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 10 
			 2007 5 
			 2008 3

Diplomatic Service

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times his Department has appointed a Special Representative to a particular region since 1997.

Gillian Merron: Special Representatives have been appointed by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, to the Great Lakes (1998), Sierra Leone (2002), Iraq (2003), South Caucasus (2003), Sudan (2003), Nepal (2003), Darfur (Peace Talks) 2006, Middle East (and Special Projects) 2007, Afghanistan and Pakistan (2009).
	In addition, Special Representatives and Special Envoys are appointed by the Prime Minister.

EU Satellite Centre

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens are employed by the European Union Satellite Centre in Torrejn, Spain.

Caroline Flint: There are currently six UK citizens employed by the European Union Satellite Centre in Torrejn, Spain

Gao Zhisheng

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the arrest of Mr. Gao Zhisheng by the Chinese authorities; what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart about Mr. Zhisheng's detention; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We remain concerned at the case of Gao Zhisheng. We have received reports that he was taken from his parents' home in Shaanxi Province on 4 February 2009 and has not been seen since. We have consistently raised the case of Mr. Zhisheng with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We raised it at the 2008 UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing as part of an individual case list. After co-ordination among EU member states, the EU presidency raised the case with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 January 2009. We will continue to monitor his case and raise it at every appropriate opportunity.

Government Communications Headquarters: Manpower

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees of the Government Communications Headquarters are currently  (a) seconded to and  (b) otherwise deployed at the United States National Security Agency.

Gillian Merron: It is the longstanding policy of the Government not to comment on operational intelligence matters, including details of staff deployments.

Guantanamo Bay: Detainees

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether US officials have acceded to the request to return Mr. Shaker Aamer to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We maintain a close dialogue with the US regarding Mr. Aamer's case and his welfare. The US government have not agreed to his release and return to the UK. We have made clear in recent contacts with the new administration that our request for his release and return stands should their position have changed.

Hazard Management Cayman Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money his Department gave to Hazard Management Cayman Islands in 2008; and what sum has been budgeted for 2009.

Gillian Merron: None. Hazard Management Cayman Islands is a public authority which is funded by the Cayman Islands government.

International Organisations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much expenditure his Department incurred in paying subscriptions to each international organisation in 2007-08; what projection he has made of such costs for each organisation in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2007-08 
			  Subscription  000 
			 UN Regular Budget and Other UN Contributions 72,382 
			 Council of Europe 19,620 
			 NATO 20,962 
			 OECD 12,826 
			 Commonwealth Secretariat 3,435 
			 OSCE 3,223 
			 Western European Union/Others 2,215 
			 Total 134,663 
			  Source: FCO Resource Accounts 2007-08 
		
	
	
		
			  (a) Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2008-09 
			  Subscription  000 
			 UN Regular Budget and Other UN Contributions 73,507 
			 Council of Europe 23,938 
			 NATO 20,870 
			 OECD 14,290 
			 Commonwealth Secretariat 4,343 
			 OSCE 3,745 
			 Western European Union/Others 2,040 
			 Total 142,733 
			  Source: FCO Supplementary Estimates 2008-09, 27 January 2009 
		
	
	 ( b) Subscriptions to each international o rganisation in 2009-10
	The projected costs for 2009-10 are around 146 million but are uncertain. In negotiating with international organisations as they set their budgets for 2009-10, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will endeavour to limit budget increases to zero real growth. The fall in sterling will have an impact on subscriptions paid in US Dollars and Euros. The FCO shares the burden of exchange rate movements on international subscriptions with the Treasury under the arrangement whereby the Treasury fund 60 per cent. of any increase above a baseline of 102 million. Our foreign currency forward purchase contracts do include an element for our international subscription costs intended to help offset any further falls in sterling.

Iran: British Council

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on the resumption of the activities of the British Council in that country.

Caroline Flint: We have been very clear with the Iranians that we consider this behaviour unacceptable, and that they should enable the British Council to resume its operations as soon as possible.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Iranian Speaker on 7 February 2009 when they met in the margins of the Munich Security Conference. We have also made representations at official level in London and Tehran.

Iraq: Homosexuality

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the treatment of gay and lesbian people in Iraq in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have received some reports of violence committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation. These however do not appear to point towards any systemic or institutionalised abuse of the homosexual community in Iraq. Rather they indicate unconnected acts perpetuated by bigoted individuals. FCO officials remain in contact with vulnerable groups organisations such as the UK-based Iraqi Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-Gender Group. We will continue to monitor this situation carefully.

Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations in response to the Iraqi National Security Adviser, Muwafaq al-Rubaie's statement on 24 January 2009 that the government of Iraq intend to hand over to the Iranian government members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I should clarify that it was the US, not the UK, who had responsibility for the security and administration of the camp. The US informed us of its plans to hand responsibility for the camp to the Iraqi authorities from 1 January 2009. This has now taken place.
	I should further clarify that the Iraqi government have not made any announcement stating they intend to forcibly hand over residents of Camp Ashraf to the Iranian government. National Security Adviser Al-Rubaie stated during his visit to Iran that we have told the members of PMOI in Camp Ashraf that they have two options. Either they return home or choose a third country.
	Prior to the handover, the US received assurances making clear the Iraqi authorities commitment to the humane treatment and continued well-being of the camp residents. We understand that in addition to this, the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights has also visited the camp and delivered these assurances to a representative body of the residents. We are naturally concerned that the rights of all those involved in the process are observed and that they continue to be treated humanely and their fundamental human rights be maintained.
	Voluntary repatriations to Iran of those residents who wish to return will continue. But there is no evidence to suggest forced relocation of the residents in Iraq or elsewhere will take place.

Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Iraq to withdraw their reported plans to hand over to the Iranian government members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member for Southend West to the answer provided against PQ 256769. It is the Government's view that there is no intention on the part of the Iraqi government to forcibly return any residents of Camp Ashraf to Iran.

Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Iraq on the rights of members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran resident in Ashraf City, Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities making clear their commitment to the humane treatment and continued well-being of the camp residents. We understand that in addition to this the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights have also visited the camp and delivered these assurances to a representative body of the residents. We are naturally concerned that the rights of all those involved in the process are observed and that they continue to be treated humanely and their fundamental human rights be maintained. In this regard, we understand that as a result of their extensive contacts the US are satisfied that the Iraqi authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities with regard to Camp Ashraf and its residents.
	Both the Iraqi authorities and the US had been involved in discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq on the modalities of the hand over of responsibility for the camp. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights also played a key role in overseeing the transition. In addition we understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) discusses, on a confidential basis, all of the issues surrounding the camp with the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran and the Iraqi and US authorities. The ICRC follows developments at the camp closely and visit regularly.
	The hon. Gentleman will also wish to note that, while residents of the camp were treated as 'protected persons', this was exercised at the good will of the US authorities in charge at the time and was not granted through any legal obligation under international law.

Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the government of Iraq to remove all restrictions on supporters of the People's Mujahedin of Iran based in Ashraf City following the recent judgment of the European Court of Justice.

Bill Rammell: On 26 January 2009, taking into account the judgment by the Court of First Instance on 4 December 2008, the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted a list which did not include the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK/PMOI). Mindful of this 4 December judgement annulling the July 2008 listing of the MEK/PMOI, the UK believes that EU member states must observe and respect the court's judgment in the current review of the EU list of terrorist organisations.
	Residents of the camp are free to leave at any time if they demonstrate they have the appropriate travel documentation and finance to leave the camp and take up residence either in Iran or in a third country. Voluntary repatriations to Iran have previously taken place and, we understand, without the returnees concerned being ill treated. Such reparations will continue for those who wish to do this. There is no evidence to suggest forced relocation of the residents in Iraq or elsewhere will take place.
	The US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities which make clear their commitment to the humane treatment and continued well-being of the camp residents. We understand that in addition to this the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights have also visited the camp and delivered these assurances to a representative body of the residents. We are naturally concerned that the rights of all those involved are observed and that camp residents continue to be treated humanely and their fundamental human rights be maintained.

Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to put in place mechanisms to protect supporters of the People's Mujahedin of Iran based in Ashraf City.

Bill Rammell: I should clarify that it was the US, not the UK, who had responsibility for the security and administration of the camp. The US informed us of its plans to hand responsibility for the camp to the Iraqi authorities from 1 January 2009 and this has now taken place. Both the Iraqi authorities and the US had been involved in discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq on modalities. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights also played a key role in overseeing the transition. In addition we understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) discusses, on a confidential basis, all of the issues surrounding the camp with the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK/PMOI) and the Iraqi and US authorities. The ICRC follows developments at the camp closely and visits regularly.
	The US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities before the handover took place making clear their commitment to the humane treatment and continued well-being of the camp residents. We understand that in addition to this the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights have also visited the camp and delivered these assurances to a representative body of the residents.
	We are naturally concerned that the rights of all those residents involved are observed and that they continue to be treated humanely and their fundamental human rights be maintained. In this regard, we understand that as a result of their extensive contacts the US are satisfied that the Iraqi authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities with regard to Camp Ashraf and its residents.
	On 26 January 2009, bearing in mind the judgment by the Court of First Instance on 4 December 2008, the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted a list which did not include the MEK/PMOI organisation. The 4 December judgment annulled the July 2008 listing of the MEK/PMOI, the UK therefore believe that EU member states must observe and respect the court's judgment in the current review of the EU list of terrorist organisations.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of  (a) the resignation from the Iraqi government of its Minister for Women and  (b) budgetary reductions of the Iraqi Ministry for Women on Iraq's ability to fulfil its responsibilities under UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Bill Rammell: We were disappointed to hear news of the resignation of Mrs. Nawal al-Samaraie although there apparently remains considerable uncertainty about whether this resignation has been accepted by the Government of Iraq. We have always enjoyed excellent relations with Mrs. al-Samaraie and have offered our full support to the work of her ministry. Budgetary issues are clearly a matter for the government of Iraq but we understand that the Iraqi Ministry of Women's Affairs is a Ministry of State and does not have the same autonomy, or budget line, of a full Ministry under the Iraqi Government.
	The UK shall continue to work with the Government of Iraq to ensure that the rights of women as provided within the Iraqi constitution are upheld. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights also has responsibility towards upholding women's rights as will the National Human Rights Commission which was established through legislation passed in November 2008.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the reasons for the recent resignation from the Iraqi government of its Minister of Women; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are aware of reports of the resignation of the Minister of State for Women's Affairs, Mrs. Nawal al-Samaraie, but have yet to see confirmation that her resignation has been accepted by the Government of Iraq. We are presently unaware of the reason for her resignation beyond that which was reported in the media. We have always enjoyed excellent relations with Mrs. al-Samaraie and so view this news with some concern. This is an internal matter for the Government of Iraq but we shall continue to monitor events closely.

Israel: Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the evidential basis is for the assumption that Israel has nuclear weapons, as set out at page 14 of his Department's publication, Lifting the Nuclear Shadow: Creating the conditions for abolishing nuclear weapons.

Bill Rammell: Information in the public domain has led to a widely held assumption that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, though Israel has always refused to either confirm or deny this. The UK has consistently urged Israel to join the non proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.

Israel: Press Freedom

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Israel to lift its restrictions on the activities of journalists from the al-Jazeera network.

Bill Rammell: We support a free media and have been concerned by Israeli restrictions on media organisation, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 21.

Kenya: Piracy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the activities of pirates operating from Kenya.

Gillian Merron: We are not aware of any pirates operating from Kenya. The focus of the international community has been on the threat of piracy operating from Somalia, including in waters off the coast of Kenya.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received allegations of the unauthorised use of ambulances for non-medical purposes by members of Hamas during Operation Cast Lead; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have not received substantiated reports of Hamas misuse of ambulances, but there have been widespread reports of unacceptable activity by Hamas members. We condemn any attack on innocent civilians. UN Security Council Resolution 1860, which was proposed by us, was emphatic in its condemnation of all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of suicide bomb attacks in Israel for which Hamas claimed responsibility between 1994 and 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, between 1994 and 2006, there were 153 suicide attacks committed by Palestinians in Israel. We are unable to verify either the total number of attacks or the organisation responsible for individual attacks.
	The UK has proscribed the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist group and repeatedly condemned attacks targeting civilians.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the briefing note on Operation Cast Lead produced jointly by his Department and the Home Office Research and Information Unit; which  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals were consulted prior to drafting the briefing note; who drafted the briefing note; for what purpose it was produced; how many copies were circulated; to whom; at what cost to his Department; what contributions Ministers in his Department made to the briefing note; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government worked hard to explain UK policy to interested groups throughout the conflict. In addition to public and parliamentary statements, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have met privately with numerous non governmental organisations, Muslim and Jewish community groups and parliamentarians. We have also written to many individuals and groups, including my letter to all MPs and Peers on 9 January 2009.
	As part of this engagement, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials drew up summaries of our actions, policy, humanitarian efforts and key ministerial statements on areas of concern to audiences. These were distributed widely across Whitehall and to our embassies and high commissions around the world. Research, Information and Communications Unit (RICU) also disseminated them to their network. The factsheet evolved as the crisis progressed and continues to be updated regularly. I will place a copy of the latest factsheet in the Library of the House.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the government of Israel's estimate of the number of civilian Palestinian casualties during Operation Cast Lead; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Israeli authorities currently estimate that between 1100 and 1200 Palestinians were killed in Gaza. They estimate that 250 were civilians.
	The UN, based on Palestinian Ministry of Health figures, reports that approximately 1,440 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, including 431 children and 114 women.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government agree with the conclusion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the construction of the barrier along the chosen route, and its associated regime, is unlawful under international law.
	The Government have consistently made this position clear and supported the UN General Assembly Resolution which acknowledged the ICJ advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of the barrier in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. While the advisory opinions of the ICJ are not legally binding, and the UK is not obliged under international law to take such diplomatic action, we continue to lobby the Government of Israel to ensure that any Israeli barrier is routed within Green Line Israel.

Rowan Laxton

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take disciplinary action against Rowan Laxton in light of his reported comments concerning Jewish people and Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The staff member concerned has been suspended in accordance with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's misconduct procedure and will be subject to disciplinary proceedings. Police inquiries are continuing.

Somaliland: Foreign Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Somaliland on that area's future status.

Gillian Merron: In December 2008, my noble Friend the Home Office Minister with responsibility for security and counter terrorism, Lord West of Spithead, met the Somaliland Foreign Affairs representative, Abdilahi Duale, during a visit to Ethiopia. In January 2008, the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, held discussions in London with the Leader of Somaliland, Dahir Rayale Kahin. The then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells), met Dahir Rayale Kahin in the capital of Somaliland in June 2008.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met representatives of the Somaliland community in the UK when he visited Cardiff in October 2008.
	The Government considers dialogue with Somaliland representatives to be an important part of our overall engagement with Somalia.

Sri Lanka: Arms Trade

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce a ban on defence equipment sales to Sri Lanka in light of the military offensive by the Sri Lankan government against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: All applications for export licences to Sri Lanka are assessed on a case by case basis against the National and EU Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account the circumstances at the time. The Government believe that a robust and transparent UK licensing regime is the best way to control the UK's strategic exports to all destinations. It is our view that the current situation in Sri Lanka would not be improved by the introduction of an embargo on defence equipment.
	Since the abrogation of the ceasefire in January 2008 the UK has not issued any licences, either for lethal goods or for other military goods that we judge would prolong or aggravate the internal conflict in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means his Department assesses the security and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: Much of the reporting on security and humanitarian issues is provided by our high commission in Colombo, which includes staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence. Our high commission also works with a number of national and international organisations on the ground. Given the nature of the conflict and limited access to the north of Sri Lanka, it is difficult to obtain reliable independent information of the current situation.
	We remain seriously concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the impact on civilians.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of developments in the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka between 21 January and 29 January 2009.

Bill Rammell: The recent upsurge of fighting between the government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelaam (LTTE) has worsened the situation for the over 200,000 internally displaced persons in northern Sri Lanka. There are increasing civilian casualties, including women and children. We are increasingly concerned about the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver much needed supplies.
	In a statement of 29 January 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary expressed his extreme concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. He urged both parties to agree an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Thailand: Aviation

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the  (a) progress of and  (b) completion date of the inquiry in Thailand into the plane crash in Phuket in September 2007.

Bill Rammell: According to the Director, Aviation Safety Standards of the Civil Aviation Department in Bangkok, the investigations into the cause of the One Two Go airline crash at Phuket airport on 16 September 2007 are ongoing. It is expected that the report will not be finalised and made public until May 2009 at the earliest.
	Our embassy in Bangkok is monitoring the progress of the investigation and we will alert the right hon. Member and the families as soon as the report is made public.

Tony Blair

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 893W, on Tony Blair, how much has been paid from the public purse towards the running of the office of Tony Blair as Quartet Representative; what arrangements there are for accounting to Parliament for such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Our answer given on 2 February 2009 sets out the Government support to the office of the Quartet Representative. Standard arrangements exist for accounting this expenditure to Parliament.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incidents of violent crime there were in the Turks and Caicos Islands in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has provided the following statistics on incidents of violent crime in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Incidents of violent crime 
			   Number 
			 2008 530 
			 2007 445 
			 2006 444 
			 2005 413 
			 2004 311

Turks and Caicos Islands: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what acreage of land in the Turks and Caicos Islands was designated an environmentally protected area in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Gillian Merron: There are thirty-three protected areas in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), in four categories: national parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries and sites of historic interest. We understand from the TCI Department for Environment and Coastal Resources that in 2006 there was a combined total area of some 78,335 hectares. They do not have figures for 2007 and 2008.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Illegal Immigrants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to tackle illegal immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Gillian Merron: The responsibility for immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is delegated to the local government, although we continue to work closely with the TCI government on this issue. We support a programme of co-operation at both official and ministerial level between the TCI government and the Government of Haiti, which we hope will soon be formalised by a memorandum of understanding.
	The Department has funded a Regional Maritime Training Coordinator for the Caribbean Overseas Territories, and provided a small patrol craft for training purposes. These will supplement the TCI government's own efforts to stem the flow of illegal migrants, which have included the recent appointment of a change manager for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force's marine branch.

Turks and Caicos Islands: National Income

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the per capita gross domestic product of the Turks and Caicos Islands was in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: (GDP) per capita calculations for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) come from the TCI government's Department of Economic Planning and Statistics. We cannot confirm the accuracy of these figures and it is not unusual for estimates to be revised after they have been published.
	Gross Domestic Product per capita (in current prices) for the last five years was:
	
		
			  US$ 
			 2003 16,297 
			 2004 17,661 
			 2005 18,909 
			 2006 21,742 
			 2007(1) 23,768 
			 (1) Preliminary 
		
	
	No estimates are yet available for 2008.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Prisons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Turks and Caicos Islands government on the conditions in  (a) police lock-ups in Providenciales and  (b) the prison on Grand Turk.

Gillian Merron: The Governor has encouraged the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government to make available the necessary funding for the construction of a new police station in Providenciales, which will include purpose built lock-ups.
	The Overseas Territories Prison Reform Coordinator, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has made recommendations to help alleviate the current overcrowding at the prison on Grand Turk, including the completion of a new female wing. These recommendations have been accepted by the TCI Government.

Venezuela: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the attack on the Tiferet Israel Synagogue in Caracas on 30 January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The attacks on Tiferet Israel Synagogue in Caracas are a significant concern. Reports we have received stated that the Synagogue was attacked by 15 to 20 armed men and women who ransacked and desecrated the building. They also broke into the administration area and stole computers containing databases.
	Our ambassador in Caracas has written to the Synagogue's Rabbi and to the Leader of the Jewish community in Venezuela to express our sympathy and solidarity.
	We note the arrest of 11 people accused of the crime. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage all to reject anti-Semitism as it is incompatible with democratic values.

Venezuela: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of anti-Semitism in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We are concerned by a number of reports of anti-Semitism in Venezuela in recent weeks, and welcome the meetings that have taken place between the Venezuelan government and the leaders of the Venezuelan Jewish community to discuss the situation.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question number 246328, on Afghanistan, tabled on 17 December 2008.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 12 February 2009  Official Report column 2197W, following a delay due to an administrative error.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will answer question 248749, tabled on 15 January 2009, on secondment to support the Quartet Middle East Envoy.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 23 February 2009  Official R eport , column 381W. The delay in responding was due to administrative error.